The swans have done well again on the Foss. The pair have reared seven cygnets to adult size (six last year) and with the biggest danger to them being discarded fishing tackle swallowed as they graze the weeds in the river bed they have been lucky not to lose any of them.

The pike fishing in the River Foss upstream of the Monkgate roundabout has really taken off over the last few weeks. Some mornings out walking the dog I’ve collected up to seven rubber gloves left by the fishermen – gloves which they use to keep the smell of fish off their hands, then discard on the river bank.

The gloves tell you the “hot spots” where you’re likely to hook pike and the best places to fish for pike. But it’s nice to note how much they think of the riverside environment.

D M Deamer, Penleys Grove Street, Monkgate, York