Crayfish Gladiator Battle

White-clawed crayfish were once common in Britain’s waterways. But thanks to a restaurant craze in the 1970’s, that brought the American signal crayfish to our shores, our only native freshwater crayfish is under threat from this invasive species.

White-clawed crayfish are eco system engineers keeping rivers and streams clean and they also have amazing limb re growing superpowers. But they’re being outcompeted for food and habitat by the American signal crayfish and succumbing to a killer plague being spread by them. But, with a little help from Ranger Nick Allen and the team at Wallington estate in Northumberland, habitats are being created where white-clawed crayfish can thrive.

Join Rosie and follow the story and the lives of the plucky little characters fighting for survival in England’s Northeast.

Production:

Host: Rosie Holdsworth

Producers: Michelle Douglass and Katy Kelly

Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez

Contributor: Nick Allen

Discover more:

Find out more about Wallington and their work with the white-clawed crayfish:

Saving the native white-clawed crayfish | National Trust

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