Listen to the Song – The Hidden Jewel – The Vendace
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 fish.
Enjoying the music?
The companion book Our Jewels in the Water includes the full lyrics, additional stories, exclusive photographs and beautiful illustrations for every species.
The Vendace
The Hidden Jewel
“Hidden within the deep, cold waters of Britain’s northern lakes swims a treasure that few people will ever see.”
Species Profile
The Vendace (Coregonus albula) is Britain’s rarest freshwater fish and one of its greatest natural treasures. A member of the salmon family, it survives naturally in only a handful of deep, glacial lakes, making it one of the country’s most endangered native species.
With its slender silver body, delicate fins and graceful movements, the Vendace is perfectly adapted to the cold, well-oxygenated waters in which it lives.
Having survived since the end of the last Ice Age, the Vendace is more than just a fish—it is a living link to Britain’s ancient natural history.
Clive’s Story
There are some fish that become famous because anglers pursue them.
Then there are fish like the Vendace.
Few anglers will ever catch one, and even fewer will ever see one swimming in its natural home.
Yet I have always believed that rarity makes something even more precious.
Knowing that this beautiful little fish has survived in isolated lakes for thousands of years fills me with admiration.
Its quiet existence reminds us that not every jewel seeks attention.
Some simply wait to be discovered.
Natural History
The Vendace thrives in deep, cold lakes where the water remains cool and rich in oxygen throughout the year.
It feeds mainly on tiny plankton drifting in open water, forming an important part of the lake’s delicate food chain.
Spawning takes place during late autumn and early winter, when eggs are laid over clean gravel and stony lake beds.
Because the Vendace depends upon such specialised conditions, even small changes in water quality or temperature can threaten its survival.
Interesting Facts
- Scientific name: Coregonus albula
- Family: Salmonidae.
- Britain’s rarest freshwater fish.
- A survivor from the last Ice Age.
- Habitat: Deep, cold glacial lakes.
- Diet: Zooplankton and tiny aquatic organisms.
- Lifespan: Usually 4–6 years.
- Extremely sensitive to warming water and pollution.
Behind the Song
When writing The Hidden Jewel, I wanted the music to reflect the quiet beauty of a fish that spends its life far from the public eye.
The gentle melody mirrors the stillness of a northern lake, while the chorus celebrates the wonder of discovering something so rare and beautiful.
The song reminds us that nature’s greatest treasures are often those hidden beneath calm waters, known only to those who care enough to look.
Conservation
The Vendace faces many challenges.
Climate change, warming lake temperatures and declining water quality threaten the fragile conditions upon which it depends.
Conservation organisations continue to monitor populations, protect habitats and, where necessary, establish new populations in suitable lakes to safeguard the future of this remarkable species.
The survival of the Vendace is a measure of the health of Britain’s finest freshwater lakes.
Clive’s Reflection
The Vendace teaches us that rarity brings responsibility.
When a species survives in only a handful of places, every individual matters.
Its story reminds us that conservation is not only about protecting famous animals.
It is about preserving every thread that forms the rich tapestry of nature.
Whenever I think about the Vendace, I picture a tiny silver fish swimming quietly beneath the surface of a crystal-clear lake, unseen by almost everyone, yet priceless all the same.
That is why, to me, the Vendace will always be The Hidden Jewel.
Song Lyrics
(QR code and lyrics to be inserted here in the companion book.)
“The greatest treasures are often those that remain quietly hidden beneath the surface.”
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