Helford trigging ban rumours rejected (From This is The West Country)

Helford trigging ban rumours rejected

10:43am Wednesday 12th September 2012 in Cornwall

Fears that the age-old tradition of “trigging” on the Helford River on Good Friday could be coming to an end appear to be unfounded.

Traditionally, two days before Easter Sunday is the one day of the year when locals are allowed to head onto the river beds to dig up cockles for their own consumption.

St Keverne Parish Councillor Bill Frisken raised a concern this permission might soon be removed when members met last Thursday. He said: “I am given to understand that there’s consideration being given to now take in the Falmouth and Helford rivers with regards to cockles.

“If you remember some time ago Natural England wanted to bring in this hair brained scheme of no digging for cockles on Good Friday - something that has been done for generations.

However, a spokesperson from Natural England said she was not aware of any plans to remove the cockle-picking right on Good Friday, telling the Packet: “That's news to us. We don’t have any plans to do that.”

She said with the river a Site of Special Scientific Interest the only reason this could happen was if cockles were being over picked, but added: “It only happens once a year so we don't have any immediate concerns.”