Listen to the Song – The Jewel Beneath the Stones
The complete lyrics are included in the companion book, Our Jewels in the Water, allowing readers to follow every song while learning about Britain’s remarkable freshwater wildlife.
Enjoying the music?
The companion book Our Jewels in the Water includes the full lyrics, additional stories, exclusive photographs and beautiful illustrations for every Jewel.
The Crayfish
Native Jewel — Invasive Threat
“Hidden beneath the stones of our rivers lives one of Britain’s smallest native treasures — but today its survival is threatened by a powerful invader.”
Species Profile
Britain’s native White-clawed Crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) is a remarkable little freshwater creature that has lived in our rivers and streams for generations.
Usually hidden beneath stones, roots and submerged vegetation, it prefers clean, cool, well-oxygenated water and plays an important part in the freshwater ecosystem.
But the White-clawed Crayfish now faces a serious threat from the introduced American Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus).
Larger, stronger and more aggressive, the Signal Crayfish can out-compete our native species for food and shelter. It can also carry crayfish plague, a disease to which Signal Crayfish can be resistant but which can devastate populations of White-clawed Crayfish.
Clive’s Story
For most anglers, the creatures beneath the stones receive far less attention than the fish swimming above them.
Yet the more I have learned about our freshwater world, the more I have realised that every part of it matters.
Turn over a stone in a clean river and you may discover an entire hidden world — insects, larvae, shrimps and, in the right places, crayfish.
The White-clawed Crayfish may never grow to the size of a Pike, Salmon or Carp, but its importance is just as real.
Sadly, another crayfish has changed the story.
The American Signal Crayfish is now established in many waterways, and its arrival has had serious consequences for our native populations.
That contrast between a small native survivor and a powerful invasive species made the crayfish an ideal subject for the final Jewel in this collection.
Natural History
White-clawed Crayfish are largely nocturnal, spending much of the day concealed beneath stones, tree roots and other underwater cover.
They are omnivorous and feed on a wide variety of material, including aquatic plants, insect larvae, snails, small invertebrates and decaying organic matter.
In doing so, they help recycle nutrients within the river ecosystem.
American Signal Crayfish occupy similar habitats but can grow considerably larger. They are powerful burrowers and may excavate holes into riverbanks, contributing to erosion and altering natural habitats.
One of the greatest concerns is the spread of crayfish plague between waterways.
For this reason, good biosecurity is extremely important whenever equipment is moved from one river, lake or canal to another.
Interesting Facts
- Scientific name of the native species: Austropotamobius pallipes
- Common name: White-clawed Crayfish
- Invasive species: American Signal Crayfish
- Signal Crayfish scientific name: Pacifastacus leniusculus
- Habitat: Rivers, streams, lakes and other freshwater habitats
- Diet: Aquatic plants, insects, small invertebrates and organic material
- Activity: Mainly nocturnal
- Native identification: Pale or whitish colouring underneath the claws
- Signal Crayfish identification: Often a distinctive pale patch near the claw joint with reddish colouring beneath the claws
- Major threat: Competition, habitat damage and the spread of crayfish plague
Behind the Song
When writing The Jewel Beneath the Stones, I wanted the song to do something slightly different.
This is not simply a celebration of a species.
It is also a warning.
The White-clawed Crayfish represents the quieter jewels of our waterways — creatures that many people may never see, yet which remain an important part of the natural world.
The repeated words:
Check, Clean, Dry
became the heart of the chorus because they carry a simple message that every angler and water user can remember.
If we move from one waterway to another, what travels with our boots, nets and equipment can matter.
The song therefore became both a celebration and a call to protect the waters we love.
Conservation
The decline of the White-clawed Crayfish is one of the clearest examples of how invasive species and disease can transform a freshwater ecosystem.
Everyone who uses our rivers, lakes and canals can help reduce the risk of spreading invasive species.
CHECK • CLEAN • DRY
CHECK
Inspect nets, boots, clothing and equipment and remove mud, plants and aquatic material.
CLEAN
Clean equipment thoroughly after leaving the water.
DRY
Allow equipment to dry completely before using it in another waterway.
These simple precautions can help reduce the movement of invasive species and disease between waters.
Never move crayfish from one water to another, and remember that the capture, trapping and handling of crayfish may be controlled by law and require permission.
Clive’s Reflection
The crayfish reminds me that conservation is not only about the largest or most spectacular creatures.
Sometimes the most important stories are taking place quietly beneath our feet.
A White-clawed Crayfish sheltering beneath a river stone may appear insignificant beside a Salmon, Barbel or Pike.
But remove enough small pieces from an ecosystem and eventually the whole picture changes.
That is why I wanted Jewel 60 to finish this journey with a message.
We have celebrated the beauty of our freshwater world.
Now we must protect it.
Every angler, every child and every person who visits our rivers can play a part.
“Guard our jewels, great and small — and remember: Check, Clean, Dry.”