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A big ‘thank-you’ to all who have helped and supported our Blyth research programme over the year.
Since mid-2023, we have amassed a solid amount of data on river pollutants and have made a good start on surveying the flora and fauna along the river, from its upper reaches at Heveningham down to Blyford bridge. We will be detailing the results and conclusions in a full report which we will circulate early in the New Year. This will also form a sound base of evidence on the state of the Blyth to use in publicising its pollution problems and pressurising Anglian Water, politicians and the government watchdogs to take urgent action to improve it.
After a well-deserved winter break, we will be modifying our testing and survey programme by:
- Reducing the frequency of sampling, as we now have a good picture of how pollution levels fluctuate over the year
- Concentrating on recording invertebrates as a good index of water quality (we will be organising training by River Fly to this end)
- Collaborating with other groups to organise a concerted programme to remove the invasive Himalayan balsam.
It has been gratifying to see the positive reception of our efforts in the local community – the support of our local village newsletter, our presentations at the Halesworth Action on Climate Change conference, and the excellent turn-out at our November update meeting in Wenhaston.
Last, but not least, you may have seen the report out yesterday by the Office for Environmental Protection, which found that OFWAT, DEFRA and the Environment Agency have all been breaking the environmental laws by failing to police the activities of water companies dumping untreated sewage into our rivers. Well worth a read: https://www.theoep.org.uk/news/oep-finds-there-have-been-failures-comply-environmental-law-relation-regulatory-oversight
Wil, from Wilder Wenhaston River Group