River Itchen Weed Cutting Dates 2018

The chalkstreams of Southern England are renowned for the crystal clear water high in nutrients which not only  grows large trout but also helps to produce exceptional weed growth.
This has to be managed to not only allow fishing access but control water height but to help prevent flooding of surrounding farmland, villages and towns.

Ever year there are periods during the trout season when the river keepers are allowed to cut this weed, once cut the weed floats downstream to collection points where it is taken out of the river.
Rather than cut all the weed, keepers are very selective in cutting as is home to many invertebrates that fish and birds rely upon in the river valleys.

The dates for weed cutting in 2018 have now been confirmed by the River Test & Itchen Association.

Sector A: Above Dungate Sluice Winchester

Sector A Cutting Days Sector A Cleardown Days
Wednesday 2nd May to Sunday 6th May Monday 7th May
Tuesday 5th June to Tuesday 12th June Wednesday 13th June to Thursday 14th June inclusive
Wednesday 4th July to Wednesday 11th July Thursday 12th July to Friday 13th July inclusive
Monday 13th August to Monday 20th August Tuesday 21st August to Wednesday 22nd August

Sector B: Below Durngate Sluice Winchester.

Sector B Cutting Days Sector B Clearing off Days
Thursday 3rd May to Monday 7th May Tuesday 8th May
Wednesday 6th June to Wednesday 13th June Thursday 14th June to Friday 15th June inclusive
Thursday 5th July to Wednesday 11th July Thursday 12th July to Friday 13th July  inclusive
Tuesday 14th August to Tuesday 21st August Wednesday 22nd August to Thursday 23rd August inclusive

View the River Test weed cutting dates 2018 HERE