Press Release from The Wye & Usk Foundation
A recent survey showed that nearly three quarters of all litter found on the banks and trees of the river Wye originates from the farming community. In April 138 items of litter were collected from a mere 0.9 miles of the Upper Wye. Of this, 73% was found to have come from agricultural sources, with only 17% coming from the general public.
A breakdown of the Composition of Litter taken from both banks of A 0.9 mile stretch of the Upper Wye in Powys. Spring 2004
| Description of Item | No. Removed | Perceived Source | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large White/Blue etc. Sacks Whole and Part |
48 | Farm | 11 re-usable |
| Black Silage Wrap | 45 | Farm | Usually trapped by brambles |
| White Feed Bucket | 4 | Farm | |
| Dead Animals | 4 | Farm | Lambs |
| Cans | 11 | General Public | Recycled at Talgarth |
| Plastic Bottles | 5 | General Public | Recycled at Talgarth |
| White Plastic Bags | 11 | Supermarkets | |
| Crisp Packets | 3 | General Public | |
| Golf Balls | 3 | Golf Course | |
| Other Plastic Drum Car Parts Foot Wear |
1 1 2 |
General Public | 1 Wellington boot, 1 Shoe |
Commenting on the results of the survey, Dr Stephen Marsh-Smith, Director of the Wye And Usk Foundation, said "Blue and white agricultural sacks hanging from trees have, sadly, become accepted as a normal feature of our rivers. They are extremely unsightly to all visitors and anglers who come to enjoy the unspoilt qualities of our rivers."
"However, this is only the visible side of agricultural pollution. We are profoundly concerned about unseen and deadly contaminants still entering watercourses, the sources of which often escape detection. Our beautiful rivers are being adversely affected by toxic farming wastes such as sheep dip and other agricultural chemicals, with dire consequences for fish, other wildlife and the tourist industry. Unfortunately it is the activities of a few that continue to damage the reputation of the farming community as a whole. "
An initiative to highlight the extent of these dangers has been organised by the Wye And Usk Foundation (WUF), along with Keep Wales Tidy (KWT), Environment Agency Wales and the Welsh Canoeing Association (WCA). Two events will be held, during which selected stretches of the rivers Wye and Usk will be cleared of litter. Both rivers are European designated Special Areas of Conservation, the highest degree of environmental protection that can be awarded in Europe. The litter collected in the clear up will again be analysed for its origin. Speaking for KWT, Owain Jones said, "The Clean Rivers Project works actively with local community groups to reduce the impact of litter and other environmental problems. We have recently formed a new partnership with WUF, WCA and EAW to help tackle these issues. This work will benefit the whole community in a competitive tourist area such as the Brecon Beacons National Park "
The dates for the clean-ups are:
Thursday 13th May for the Wye and Friday
14th May for the Usk. The campaign is part of the Foundation's Wye
and Usk European funded projects. Partners in these projects include:
Environment Agency Wales, Countryside Council for Wales, Keep Wales
Tidy, Wales Tourist Board, Forestry Commission, Wildlife Trusts (Radnor & Brecknock),
Anglers Conservation Association, Cardiff University, Centre for Ecology
and Hydrology (Bangor), Country Landowners Association, Brecon Beacons
National Park, United Usk Fisherman's Association.
Contacts:
The Wye And Usk Foundation,
Dolgarreg, North Road,
Builth Wells, Powys
LD2 3DD
01982 551 520
Seth Johnson-Marshall, Marketing Officer, seth@wyeuskfoundation.org
Keep Wales Tidy,
33-35 Cathedral Road,
Cardiff CF11 9HB,
029 2025 6767
Owain Jones, Clean Rivers Project Officer, owain.jones@keepwalestidy.org
Environment Agency Wales, 029 207 70088, Bill Purvis
Welsh Canoe Association, 01678 521 199, Richard Harvey
Notes for editors:
The Wye and Usk Foundation is a registered charity that is actively
engaged in restoring the fisheries of the Usk and Wye through its European
funded projects pHish and UP! These three-year projects started in 2002
(Wye) and 2004 (Usk). The Foundation has raised and is spending in excess
of £3.5 Million. Partnership Projects have included net and putcher
buy offs in the Severn estuary; fish pass design and build, habitat restoration
and fisheries marketing.
Full details available from www.wyeuskfoundation or the director, Dr Stephen Marsh – Smith, stephen@wyeuskfoundation.org 07812118065
The Welsh Canoeing Association is the National Governing Body for Paddle Sport in Wales. www.welsh-canoeing.org.uk 01678 521199 welsh.caneoing@virgin.net