Pickering Beck

The valley that Pickering Beck inhabits was carved by glacial melt water before the late Devensian period of history. It was initially thought to be a drainage channel for a glacial lake,{{cite web|title=Newtondale|url=http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1003523.pdf|website=sssi.naturalengland.org|access-date=3 November 2016}} either by two ice sheets abutting and the waters reaching the same height as the surrounding ice sheets (about {{convert|200|ft}} above sea level), or as a simple drainage channel for the meltwater when the temperatures rose. Either way, the deep meandering channel has been estimated to have been carved by water flowing at {{convert|10,000|ft3}} per second (ten times the amount of water discharged by the Thames when it is in flood).{{cite book|last1=Goudie|first1=Andrew|last2=Gardner|first2=Rita|title=Discovering Landscape in England & Wales|date=1992|publisher=Chapman & Hall|isbn=978-0-412-47850-5|pages=35–36|chapter=9. Newtondale, an Ice Age torrent}}

The beck's source (Fen Bog) is at the watershed of two becks; this means that water coming off the moors flows either north (Eller Beck) or south (Pickering Beck). The source of the beck is also only {{convert|4|km|order=flip}} west of the source of the River Derwent (Derwent Head),{{cite map|title =Malton & Pickering|map=100|year =2004 |scale =1:50,000|series =Landranger |publisher =Ordnance Survey|edition =C2|isbn =9780319227008}} the river that the beck feeds into (via the Costa Beck at Wykeham) and the parent catchment that the beck comes under.{{cite web|title=Get to know your rivers; the Derwent catchment|url=http://ea-lit.freshwaterlife.org/archive/ealit:1294/OBJ/19001137.pdf|website=ea-lit.freshwaterlife.org|publisher=Environment Agency|access-date=5 November 2016|page=3|format=PDF}}

The beck has been subject to flooding (particularly flash flooding in summer) since modern times.{{cite news|title=Go-ahead likely for town’s flood defence plan hit by soaring costs|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/go-ahead-likely-for-town-s-flood-defence-plan-hit-by-soaring-costs-1-5663232|access-date=5 November 2016|work=The Yorkshire Post|date=13 May 2013}} This is due to the steep sided valley that the waters run off of and into the beck.{{cite web|title=Secretary of State opens Pickering Slow the Flow scheme|url=http://www.jackson-civils.co.uk/news/item/68-secretary-of-state-opens-pickering-slow-the-flow-project|website=Jacksons Civils|access-date=3 November 2016}} Because of the above average flooding suffered by Pickering (and elsewhere) in 2007, the town became a pilot in a government project known as Slowing the Flow.{{cite web|last1=Walker|first1=Jeremy|title=Slowing the Flow: Working with nature to reduce flood risk in North Yorkshire|url=https://environmentagency.blog.gov.uk/2015/11/11/slowing-the-flow-working-with-nature-to-reduce-flood-risk-in-north-yorkshire/|website=gov.uk|publisher=Environment Agency|access-date=3 November 2016|date=11 November 2015}}

With the new scheme, 129 Large Woody Debris (LWD) dams (or Leaky Dams) were installed which will allow slower moving water through, but retain fast headwaters attacking the dam head. Elsewhere, 187 heather bale check dams were constructed on the various smaller streams that feed into Pickering Beck to hold more water back. Additionally, a new floodplain was created to the north east of the town in area near to the hamlet of Newbridge known as Low Hunters Bridge. This floodplain and bund storage allows for {{convert|120,000|m3|order=flip}} of floodwater to be retained when the beck is in peak flow or under heavy rain conditions.{{cite news|title=North Yorkshire Moors Railway welcomes Pickering flooding work|url=http://www.thescarboroughnews.co.uk/news/north-yorkshire-moors-railway-welcomes-pickering-flooding-work-1-7544050|access-date=3 November 2016|work=The Scarborough News|date=30 October 2015}}

The original plan was for two bunds that would store {{convert|85,000|m3|order=flip}} of water adjacent to the railway near to Newbridge. Modelling data suggested that a failure of the bunds would endanger public safety and a new scheme was devised that would fall under the Reservoirs Act 1975 making the new bund a Category A reservoir, and a {{convert|120|m3|order=flip}} clay bund was installed across the beck at Low Hunters Bridge.{{cite web|last1=Hill|first1=Ed|title=SuDS Case Study – "Slowing the Flow" in Pickering, Yorkshire|url=http://floodlist.com/europe/united-kingdom/suds-case-study-slowing-flow-pickering-yorkshire|website=floodlist.com|publisher=Floodlist|access-date=3 November 2016|date=9 September 2016}} The bund extended to {{convert|1|km|order=flip}} and at a height of {{convert|2|m|order=flip}} above the land level. The outflow channel is subsurface to the beck and floodplain and this allows a maximum of {{convert|14.5|m3|order=flip}} per second out of the reservoir.{{cite web|last1=McAlinden|first1=Ben|title=Slowing the Flow at Pickering|url=https://www.ice.org.uk/disciplines-and-resources/case-studies/slowing-the-flow-at-pickering|website=ice.org|publisher=Institution of Civil Engineers|access-date=3 November 2016|location=Design & Construction|date=14 June 2016}} This increased the money needed to be spent from £1.15 million to £3.2 million.{{cite web|title=PROJECT RMP5455: SLOWING THE FLOW AT PICKERING|url=http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/FR_STF_Pickering_P2_May2015.pdf/$FILE/FR_STF_Pickering_P2_May2015.pdf|website=forestry.gov.uk|publisher=DEFRA|access-date=3 November 2016|page=15|format=PDF|date=May 2015}}

Work was started on the scheme in 2014 and the project was officially unveiled by Secretary of State for the Environment Liz Truss in October 2015.{{cite news|last1=Mezzetti|first1=Ed|title=Pickering's Slowing the Flow flood defence system is officially opened by environment secretary Elizabeth Truss|url=http://www.gazetteherald.co.uk/news/13893119.Pickering_s_flood_defence_system_is_officially_opened/#|access-date=3 November 2016|work=Gazette & Herald|date=23 October 2015}}

In January 2016, Geoffrey Lean, an environmental journalist, wrote an article for The Independent stating that after significant rainfall, the bund had held the waters away from Pickering and saved the town from flooding, unlike York (a bare {{convert|40|mi}} away).{{cite news|last1=Lean|first1=Geoffrey|title=UK flooding: How a Yorkshire town worked with nature to stay dry|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/uk-flooding-how-a-yorkshire-flood-blackspot-worked-with-nature-to-stay-dry-a6794286.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220526/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/uk-flooding-how-a-yorkshire-flood-blackspot-worked-with-nature-to-stay-dry-a6794286.html |archive-date=26 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=3 November 2016|work=The Independent|date=2 January 2016}} This prompted a response from Jeremy Biggs (director of the Freshwater Habitats Trust) who claimed that the catchment for Pickering was the driest place in Yorkshire over the Christmas and New Year Period for 2015 and 2016.{{cite news|last1=Biggs|first1=Jeremy|title=‘Working with nature’ didn’t save Pickering from the floods – it just didn’t rain much|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/07/working-with-nature-didnt-save-pickering-from-the-floods-it-just-didnt-rain-much|access-date=3 November 2016|work=The Guardian|date=7 January 2016}}

The Meteorological Office data for the area showed a 150% above average rainfall in the area and Mike Potter, a Pickering Councillor, said it was very wet and Pickering was spared. Lean cites Bigg's evidence as skewed, including the fact that he quotes Westerdale weather data as his source. Westerdale is in another catchment area and is {{convert|16|mi}} north of Pickering where the waters feed into the River Esk rather than Pickering Beck.{{cite web|last1=Lean|first1=Geoffrey|title=Despite the critics, Pickering’s natural flood defences do seem to saved the town (it rained plenty!)|url=http://geoffreylean.tumblr.com/post/137167095886/despite-the-critics-pickerings-natural-flood|website=Geoffrey Lean|access-date=3 November 2016|date=12 January 2016}} The argument also continued in the locality where some have called for a flood wall to be installed in the town.{{cite web|last1=Lotherington|first1=John|title=Pickering and the flood that didn’t happen: citizen participation and its critics|url=http://www.fdsd.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Pickering.pdf|website=FDSD.org|publisher=Foundation for Democracy and Sustainable Development|access-date=3 November 2016|format=PDF|date=April 2016}}

The Environment Agency released figures in the Spring of 2016 that showed the defences put in place by the Slowing the Flow scheme had reduced the river peak flow by around 15–20%.{{cite news|last1=Harrabin|first1=Roger|title=Pickering leaky dams flood prevention scheme 'a success'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-36029197|access-date=6 November 2016|work=BBC News|date=13 April 2016}} Rainfall figures were recorded as being {{convert|50|mm|order=flip}} over a 36-hour period in Christmas 2015.{{cite web|title=Slowing the Flow scheme helped avoid Christmas flooding|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/slowing-the-flow-scheme-helped-avoid-christmas-flooding|website=gov.uk|publisher=Environment Agency|access-date=6 November 2016|date=13 April 2016}} However, one of the chairmen of the Slowing the Flow partnership cautioned that the defences would not be enough to prevent flooding on the scale that affected Pickering in 2007,{{cite news|last1=Mackie|first1=David|title=Pickering flood defences declared a success|url=http://www.gazetteherald.co.uk/news/14424283.Pickering_flood_defences_stopped_December_flooding/?ref=mr&lp=17|access-date=3 November 2016|work=Gazette & Herald|date=13 April 2016}} and that an additional {{convert|650,000|m3|order=flip}} of floodplain would be needed.{{cite web|title=Case Study Pickering Beck|url=http://nwrm.eu/sites/default/files/case_studies_ressources/cs-uk-03-final_version.pdf|website=nwrm.eu|access-date=3 November 2016|location=Biophysical Impact|page=4|format=PDF}}

In April 2019, two Eurasian beavers were introduced into Cropton Forest north west of Pickering. The beavers will take part in the slowing the flow scheme and their natural engineering of dams will be assessed over a five-year period.{{cite news |title=Beavers released in forest for pioneering flying trial |editor-last=Chapman|editor-first=Hannah|work=The Northern Echo |date=18 April 2019 |page=12|issn=2043-0442}}{{cite news |title=Beavers released in anti-flooding trial |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-47961584 |access-date=18 April 2019 |work=BBC News |date=17 April 2019}}

The beck begins at Fen Bog (just west of the A169 road) but quite low in the narrow valley where the North Yorkshire Moors railway runs.{{cite web|title=Railway welcomes flood defences at Pickering|url=http://www.minsterfm.com/news/local/1773940/railway-welcomes-flood-defences-at-pickering/|website=Minster FM|access-date=3 November 2016|date=26 October 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151027132305/http://www.minsterfm.com/news/local/1773940/railway-welcomes-flood-defences-at-pickering/ |archive-date=27 October 2015}} It largely drains the southern part of Goathland Moor and the Saltersgate areas through Newtondale.{{cite book|last1=Royle|first1=Edward|title=A Church Scandal in Victorian Pickering|date=2010|publisher=Borthwick Papers|location=York|isbn=978-1-904497-49-3|page=7|chapter=Introduction}} It travels south westwards at first being fed by Thack Sike and numerous smaller watercourses spilling off the moorland before turning south at Carter House/North Dale and follows the same route as the railway in the narrow sided valley.

It splits into two streams by Pifelhead Wood and goes westwards past Newton Dale Halt on the railway before turning south again at Kidstyke Farm and meanders south in varying degrees past Levisham and Farwath before heading west again into Newbridge and south into Pickering town.{{cite web|title=Pickering Beck Channel Restoration|url=http://www.eastyorkshireriverstrust.org.uk/projects/pickering-beck-channel-restoration.html|website=East Yorkshire River Trust|access-date=3 November 2016}} The beck flows under Bridge Street (a Grade II listed bridge), The Ropery and Hungate in the town centre{{NHLE|num=1172952|desc=Pickering Bridge|access-date=4 November 2016}} before it heads mainly in a southerly direction and flowing into the Costa Beck east of Kirby Misperton.

In the majority of the upper reaches (above Pickering),{{cite web|last1=Jacklin|first1=Tim|title=Advisory Visit Pickering Beck, North Yorkshire|url=http://www.wildtrout.org/system/files/private/PickeringBeck2009.pdf|publisher=Wild Trout Trust|access-date=6 November 2016|page=4|format=PDF|date=24 October 2009}} the beck takes a very meandering course through tracts of dense woodland. This is being remedied in some places to allow sunlight onto the beck. The lower reaches of the beck (south of Pickering) flow through a more arable and farmed landscape with crop growing and cattle rearing.{{cite web|last1=Jacklin|first1=Tim|title=Advisory Visit Pickering Beck, North Yorkshire|url=http://www.wildtrout.org/system/files/private/PickeringBeck2009.pdf|publisher=Wild Trout Trust|access-date=6 November 2016|page=2|format=PDF|date=24 October 2009}}

Both Ryedale Council and the Environment Agency acknowledge Pickering Beck as being a main river.{{cite web|title=Policy Statement on Flood Defence|url=http://www.ryedale.gov.uk/attachments/article/1003/Flood_Defence_Policy.pdf|website=ryedale.gov.uk|publisher=RYEDALE DISTRICT COUNCIL|access-date=6 November 2016|page=5|format=PDF|date=March 2001}}

Pickering beck is usually between {{convert|0.1|m|order=flip}} and {{convert|1|m|order=flip}} high in its normal range. The highest level ever recorded in Pickering was on 26 June 2007 when the river level was {{convert|1.98|m|order=flip}} at 1:00 am.{{cite web|title=Pickering Beck at Pickering|url=https://www.riverlevels.uk/pickering-beck-pickering|website=riverlevelsuk|access-date=3 November 2016}} The town has been flooded on four occasions between 1999 and 2007 with the 2007 floods being most notable for the level of the flooding with an estimated £7 million worth of damages.

The normal discharge flow from the beck is measured at {{convert|0.848|m3|order=flip}} per second measured from the gauging station at Ings Bridge which is a crump (triangular) weir.{{cite web|title=27056 - Pickering Beck at Ings Bridge|url=http://nrfa.ceh.ac.uk/data/station/meanflow/27056|website=National River Flow Archive|access-date=6 November 2016}}{{cite web|last1=Rickard|first1=Charles|last2=Day|first2=Rodney|last3=Purseglove|first3=Jeremy|title=River Weirs – Good Practice Guide|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/290655/sw5b-023-hqp-e-e.pdf|website=gov.uk|publisher=Environment Agency|access-date=6 November 2016|page=10|format=PDF|date=October 2003}} This is an average flow and does not represent flooding statistics as the gauging station is set in a floodplain and becomes ineffective when the river is flooded.{{cite web|title=27056 - Pickering Beck at Ings Bridge|url=http://nrfa.ceh.ac.uk/data/station/info/27056|website=National River Flow Archive|access-date=6 November 2016}}

The builders of the Whitby and Pickering Railway, used the narrow valley at Newtondale that the beck inhabits to run their railway through. At Fen Bog, they had to float the railway on timber and sheep fleeces.{{cite book|last1=Young|first1=Alan|title=Lost Stations of Yorkshire; the North and East Ridings|date=2015|publisher=Silver Link Publishing|location=Kettering|isbn=978-1-85794-453-2|page=10|chapter=Beckhole (1835)}} Between the source of the Beck and Pickering, the beck flows under the railway six times and the railway shadows the beck all the way into Pickering.

The beck was used to power several watermills in the town of Pickering,{{cite web|title=Pickering Beck|url=https://millsarchive.org/explore/mills/database?category:river=461|website=Mills Archive|access-date=5 November 2016}} of which three are still standing; High Mill, Vivers Mill and Low Mill. The weir attached to Low Mill has a {{convert|2|m|order=flip|abbr=on}} drop which is still a barrier to fish migration.{{cite web|last1=Jacklin|first1=Tim|title=Advisory Visit Pickering Beck, North Yorkshire|url=http://www.wildtrout.org/system/files/private/PickeringBeck2009.pdf|publisher=Wild Trout Trust|access-date=6 November 2016|page=9|format=PDF|date=24 October 2009}} Low Mill is now a private residence and has a Grade II listing attached to the building.{{NHLE|num=1260609|desc=Pickering Low Mill|access-date=4 November 2016}} High Mill was adjacent to the first railway station in Pickering and like Low Mill is now a private residence.{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.highmillpickering.co.uk/history|website=High Mill Pickering|access-date=5 November 2016}} The Bone Mill was adjacent to the right hand side of the beck by Southgate.{{cite book|last1=Clitheroe|first1=Gordon|title=Pickering Through Time|date=2013|publisher=Amberley|location=Stroud|isbn=978-1-8486855-1-2|page=3}} It was demolished and a coal depot was used on the land, which became derelict.{{cite web|last1=Brightman|first1=Jim|last2=Marshall|first2=Bryan|title=Vivis Lane, Southgate, Pickering, North Yorkshire Report on an Archaeological Excavation|url=http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-424-1/dissemination/pdf/archaeol5-50469_1.pdf|website=Archaeological data services|publisher=Archaeological data services|access-date=5 November 2016|page=4|format=PDF|date=October 2008}} A supermarket now occupies the site.{{cite news|title=Store plan wins backing of inspector|url=http://www.thescarboroughnews.co.uk/news/store-plan-wins-backing-of-inspector-1-1474906|access-date=5 November 2016|work=The Scarborough News|date=12 May 2010}}

Vivers Mill has also been converted into a dwelling and remains Grade II listed. {{NHLE|num=1241583|desc=Vivers Mill|access-date=5 November 2016}} All mills, apart from the Bone Mill, were for corn milling.{{Citation needed|reason=Reliable source needed for the whole sentence|date=May 2024}}

A trout farm was established beside the beck in 1971 as the cold, clean water was ideal for raising trout.{{cite news|last1=Jeffels|first1=David|title=Pickering fish farm pioneers, Mike and Judith O’Donnell, sell Moorland Trout Farm|url=http://www.gazetteherald.co.uk/news/4530667.Pickering_fish_farm_pioneers_sell_Moorland_Trout_Farm/|access-date=4 November 2016|work=Gazette & Herald|date=5 August 2009}} The business built a lake between the two divided sections of the beck just north of Pickering railway station. Due to the owners retirement and a downturn in business, the lake will be tarmaced over to provide a 158 car park as an overflow for the railway business by the end of 2017.{{cite news|last1=Foster|first1=Mark|title=Fishing spot could be turned into car-park|url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/13899650.Fishing_spot_could_be_turned_into_car_park/?ref=arc|access-date=4 November 2016|work=The Northern Echo|date=27 October 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Mackie|first1=David|title=Greenlight for Pickering trout lake plan|url=http://www.gazetteherald.co.uk/news/14330667.Greenlight_for_Pickering_trout_lake_plan/|access-date=4 November 2016|work=Gazette & Herald|date=9 March 2016}}

The upper reaches of the beck (above Pickering) are part of an SSSI site and additionally it flows through the North York Moors National Park. Fen Bog is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).{{cite web|title=Citation for Special Area of Conservation (SAC) Fen Bog|url=http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/5399524075896832|website=Naturalengland.org|publisher=Natural England|date=9 July 2014|access-date=6 November 2016|format=PDF}}

Siltation prevention was undertaken on the beck in its lower reaches in 2014. The siltation near to Lendales Farm was due to cattle drinking and crossing the beck which allowed erosion to occur. Remediation works were undertaken to create a crossing point for the cattle without polluting the water.{{cite web|title=Silt control projects undertaken at Lendales Farm, Kirby Misperton, North Yorkshire 2014|url=http://www.eastyorkshireriverstrust.org.uk/uploads/publications%20new/Newsletter%202015.pdf|website=eastyorkshireriverstrust.org|publisher=East Yorkshire Rivers Trust|access-date=4 November 2016|page=2|format=PDF|date=July 2015}}

The bedrock of the beck flows mainly over the sandstone and limestone calcareous rocks (of the southern hills of the North York Moors){{cite web|title=NCA Profile: 25 North York Moors and Cleveland Hills (NE352)|url=http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/2646022|website=naturalengland.org|publisher=Natural England|access-date=6 November 2016|page=7|format=PDF|date=2015}} with loose accumulations of clay, silt, gravel and sand.{{cite web|last1=Gaskell|first1=Paul|title=Advisory Visit Pickering Beck – Duchy Water|url=http://www.wildtrout.org/system/files/private/Pickering_Beck_Duchy_2011.pdf|publisher=Wild Trout Trust|access-date=6 November 2016|page=2|format=PDF|date=30 August 2011}} The very upper reaches (source to Levisham Beck) are sandstone, the Middle portion is Corallian limestone (confluence of Levisham and Pickering Becks to Pickering) and the last section (the mainly agricultural reach south of Pickering) is on Kimmeridge Clay.{{cite web|title=River Derwent Catchment Management Plan Consultation Report|url=http://www.environmentdata.org/archive/ealit:2136/OBJ/19000442.pdf|website=Environment Data.org|publisher=National Rivers Authority|access-date=6 November 2016|page=11|format=PDF}} The beck has wild trout and Grayling and whilst it is maintained and cared for by the Pickering Fisheries Association, there is no supplementary stocking of fish. Dace, chub, pike, minnows and brook lamprey have all been noted in its lower reaches.{{cite web|last1=Jacklin|first1=Tim|title=Advisory Visit Pickering Beck, North Yorkshire|url=http://www.wildtrout.org/system/files/private/PickeringBeck2009.pdf|publisher=Wild Trout Trust|access-date=6 November 2016|page=3|format=PDF|date=24 October 2009}}

Pickering Fishery Association have the rights to fish on almost all of Pickering Beck. Above the town of Pickering, fly fishing is preferred where the beck is described as an infant stream. Below the town, the beck widens and has pools and riffles and is wider with improved accessibility.{{cite web|title=Pickering Beck|url=http://www.pickeringfishery.co.uk/streams_1.html|website=Pickering Fishery|access-date=3 November 2016}}

Newtondale has many access points, Newton Dale Halt railway station and Fen Bog{{cite web|title=Fen Bog|url=http://www.ywt.org.uk/reserves/fen-bog-nature-reserve|website=Yorkshire Wildlife Trust|access-date=5 November 2016}} being notable examples in the very upper reaches of the beck. A {{convert|2|mi|adj=on}} stretch of The Tabular Hills Walk runs alongside Levisham Beck (a feeder of Pickering Beck) and crosses Pickering Beck at Farwath.

{{reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.forestry.gov.uk/images/sftap_catchment_a3.jpg/$FILE/sftap_catchment_a3.jpg Seven and Pickering Beck catchment area map]
• [http://www.forestry.gov.uk/fr/infd-84rgyp Aerial imagery of Pickering in flood from Pickering beck (2002 & 2007)]
• [https://archive.org/stream/geologicalhisto01reedgoog#page/n86/mode/2up Illustration showing how the Derwent, Eller Beck and Pickering Beck were divided by glaciation]

{{Rivers of Yorkshire}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Pickering Beck}}

Category:Rivers of North Yorkshire

Category:Beck watercourses