Diglis Island & Fish Pass

25/08/2026

Fish Pass Drop-ins will start again in September (although you won’t spot a Shad!) as too will our Diglis Island and Fish Pass tours. Keep an eye on our Events listings at canalrivertrust.org.uk/diglis for our Autumn dates being released soon.

Our fish in focus this week is sometimes described as a "silver ghost" because of how rare sightings are. 👻

The twaite shad is a member of the herring family, but like salmon, they spend most of their time in the sea and migrate to freshwater rivers to spawn in the spring.

This is known as anadromy, and the twaite shad's spring migratory pattern has led to another of its nicknames: the "May fish."

Like true lovemakers, the twaite shad spawns after dark - they swim in tight circles, splashing noisily while releasing eggs and s***m, an act often heard before it's seen.

As spawning is such an energy sapping activity, many fish die afterwards. That being said, the UK's survival rate is higher than lots of places in Europe.

Centuries ago, the twaite shad was abundant in the River Severn and regarded so highly that it was served in King Henry III's court and exported across Europe. The way we might look forward to the arrival of swallows today, the same used to be true of this fish.

The construction of weirs and dams in the 19th century caused a massive decline in twaite shad populations, as they were prevented from reaching their spawning grounds.

Many projects are now reopening these routes, like Diglis Fish Pass, allowing fish to swim around large weirs. Completed in 2021, the pass at Diglis is one of four on the River Severn we built as part of our Unlocking the Severn project, in partnership with Severn Rivers Trust, Environment Agency and Natural England.

2026 saw a massive jump from 2025 in the numbers of twaite shad moving up the fish pass, and we hope this only increases in the future. Thanks to this project and ongoing work from our teams, we can help nature thrive. 📈

Due to their rarity, it's imperative (both ethically and legally) that if you do accidentally catch one, you return it to the water immediately.

09/08/2026

"Had a fantastic morning completing the trail and two very happy children at the end when they got an ice lolly. Well worth a visit. 👏👏" Joanne

"We went with our grandchildren today and we all had a fabulous time... a big thank you." Carole

😮‍💨Is it really only the start of Week 3 of the School Holidays?

Come down to Diglis Island where the children can complete our activity trail. Then spend time enjoying some refreshments, playing with our outdoor games in front of the Workshop or taking in the lovely views of the and .

📆 Mondays and Tuesdays (except Bank Holiday Monday)
🕗 10am to 4pm
📍Diglis Island (WR5 3BS)

🗺 Trail booklet £5 including a free Bennett's ice-cream tub or ice lolly.
📜 Available to buy from the Workshop during the Café.
🤲 Children must be supervised by an adult at all times.

06/08/2026

🐟The shad count for 2026 is in.........
.....632 shad were counted swimming past the window - the second highest number that we've seen. 🎉👏🎉👏🎉

The new AI camera that the Environment Agency are using is giving us much clearer images of the fish in the window.

Fish Pass drop-ins will start again in September, when the river temperature drops. We will publish the Autumn dates on our Events page at the end of August.

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/things-to-do/museums-and-attractions/diglis-island-and-fish-pass

Canal & River Trust Canal & River Trust Angling

25/07/2026

🔍 Looking for something to do during the summer holiday?

Set off on a discovery trail around the beautiful Diglis Island and uncover its fascinating wildlife and canal heritage.
🗺 Trail booklet £5 including a free Bennett's ice-cream tub or ice lolly.
📜 Available to buy from the Workshop during the Café.
🤲 Children must be supervised by an adult at all times.

☕️ Or, relax with stunning views of Worcester Cathedral and the River Severn whilst enjoying refreshments from the Café.

📅 Mondays and Tuesdays
⏰️ 10am to 4pm
🏝 Diglis Island, Worcester, WR5 3BS

Closed August Bank Holiday Monday

13/07/2026

03/07/2026

01/07/2026

⛔️ Fish Pass Drop-in cancelled today Wednesday 1st July.

Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, we have had to cancel the Diglis Fish Pass Drop-in this afternoon.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Worcester News Canal & River Trust BBC Hereford & Worcester

22/06/2026

❌Unfortunately, there will be no Fish Pass drop-in this Wednesday, 24th June.

Due to the Red Heat warning, we have taken the difficult decision to cancel the drop-in on.

☕We still plan to open the Diglis Island Cafe on Saturday morning from 10am to midday.
🏝There are also limited spaces available on the 90-minute guided Diglis Island and Fish Pass tours taking place in the afternoon.

Worcester News

05/06/2026

Thanks for visiting.
☕️Diglis Island Cafe reopens Mondays from 10am to 12pm and then from 1:30pm to 3:30pm.
It’s also open on the 2nd and 4th Saturday from 10am to 12pm.

05/06/2026

👏👏👏A huge thank you to all of our lovely based at Diglis Island & Fish Pass for all your time, effort and enthusiasm.

Your hard work makes a real difference to help protect the wildlife, buildings and fish passes, as well as making the experiences for the visitors of all ages and from all corners of the world memorable and exciting.

If you fancy joining the team, then come down to Worcester's Guildhall today, between 10am and 2pm, where we are attending the Worcester Volunteer Expo. Come and chat with volunteers to find out what it's like (and hopefully sign up!🤞)

Canal & River Trust Canal & River Trust Angling Canal & River Trust - Explorers