Beaver Reintroduction Survey
As researchers at the University of Exeter, we are inviting residents in Wales to take part in research investigating attitudes towards Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber) reintroduction in Wales. We would like to invite you to take part in this research, and to share this invitation within your networks.
This research aims to better understand public attitudes to beaver reintroduction in Wales, including how respondents feel about beaver management techniques and how attitudes differ between groups of people. All views are welcome. Participation is voluntary and anonymous, and the survey can be completed in Welsh or English.
Findings will be outlined in a results report that will be submitted to Natural Resources Wales and North Wales Wildlife Trust. It will also become publicly available in 2023, and participants will be offered the opportunity to opt in to receive a copy of this results report. Findings may also be reported upon in a subsequent academic publication.
This research is commissioned by North Wales Wildlife Trust with funding received through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. The research is being independently conducted by the University of Exeter. North Wales Wildlife Trust do not have oversight of the analysis.
Thank you for considering this invitation, and for any contribution you may be willing to make. Further information is available at the survey links:
- To take part in Welsh, please go to: www.shorturl.at/bgm08
- To take part in English, please go to: www.shorturl.at/brL18
If you have any questions about the survey, please email r.e.auster@exeter.ac.uk
If you have questions about beavers in Wales, please email beaver.afanc@northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk
MPs told Natural Resources Wales is not fit for purpose
Welsh MPs have been told that Natural Resources Wales is not fit for purpose and that Llandudno saw the largest amount of sewage dumps into the sea by Dŵr Cymru than anywhere else in Wales during 2022.
Committee Chair Stephen Crabb MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire kicked off the session on water quality by asking how bad is the situation in Wales?
Gail Davies-Walsh of Afonydd Cymru said: “My summary at the minute is that Welsh rivers are in a very poor state in terms of water quality.
“Five of our nine Special Areas of Conservation designated rivers are failing for phosphorous and excessive nutrients.
“32% of all rivers in Wales fail for phosphorous and only 40% meet their good ecological status. Sewer overflows play a very important part of the impact to our river quality. Over the last two years the data for Wales has shown that currently around 100,000 spills per annum goes into our rivers.” Giving evidence to the Welsh Affairs Select Committee in the House of Commons today (8 January 2023) were Gail Davies-Walsh, Chief Executive, Afonydd Cymru; Jon Khoo, Chair of Surfers against Sewage and Angela Jones who has led a 30 year campaign to save the River Wye from polluters.
click link: MPs told Natural Resources Wales is not fit for purpose (nation.cymru)
The recorded live session of this Welsh Affairs Committee can be seen on video via the link below:
MPs hold one-off session to examine sewage discharges in Wales - Committees - UK Parliament
Manningtree wild swimmers bid for bathing water status
Wild swimmers said they were applying for bathing water status for a river to stop it being used as a dumping ground for sewage.
The group swims in the River Stour in Manningtree, Essex. Some members havefallen sick after swimming in the river, where sewage was recorded as having been released for more than 1,200 hours last year. Campaigner Anna Helm Baxter said: "We've had enough of polluters not being held to account."
click link: Manningtree wild swimmers bid for bathing water status - BBC News
see also: Wild swimmer wants bathing status in bid to clean up Shropshire rivers | Shropshire Star
The UK's official swimming rivers are too polluted to swim in
New Scientist reports on 8 Mar 23 that Just two rivers in the UK are designated as "bathing waters", and both are currently rated in poor health. With more rivers set to become bathing waters, will they actually be clean enough to use?
click link: The UK's official swimming rivers are too polluted to swim in | New Scientist
Ray Mears: Some British rivers so polluted I wouldn’t even canoe on them
Nature presenter and survivalist speaks on 5 Mar 23 of ‘heartbreaking’ state of UK waterways, where the pleasure of a wild swim is being ‘lost’
click link: Ray Mears: Some British rivers so polluted I wouldn’t canoe on them (telegraph.co.uk)
Horror as 10 tonnes of waste cleared from tiny stretch of River Teifi
More than 10 tonnes of waste have been cleaned up from a three-kilometre stretch of the polluted River Teifi.
Llandysul villagers have expressed their horror after images on social media showedboat loads of debris and agricultural refuse being hauled from the riverbed by tens ofvolunteers over the last three weekends.
Teams numbering between 20 and 50 people, led by the village’s Paddlers Canoe Centre and Club, took to the water or scoured the riverbanks.
click link: Horror as 10 tonnes of waste cleared from tiny stretch of River Teifi | cambrian-news.co.uk
Afonydd Cymru Summary of Second Phosphorus Summit
On Wednesday 8th March, 2023, the second Phosphorus Pollution Summit was held in Cardiff, hosted by First Minister, Mark Drakeford MS.
Julie James MS, Minister for Climate Change an dLesley Griffiths MS, Minister for Rural Affairs were also in attendance, as were representatives from Natural Resources Wales, local authorities, the agricultural sector, house building and the environment. Representing the rivers and river trusts of Wales was Gail Davies-Walsh, CEO of Afonydd Cymru.
First Ministers summary was: ‘we need to do more and we need to do it quicker’. We also welcome his commitment to lead the governance structure being developed. What we absolutely need to see is more action.
click link: Second Phosphorus Summit: Our Summary | Afonydd Cymru
see also: New strategy agreed on reducing river pollution (nation.cymru)
One man’s quest to turn sewage into eco-gold
Phosphorus in fertilizer is crucial to feeding the world but too much of the element in the environment is disastrous.
A revolution in capturing phosphorus from wastewater is underway.
Phosphorus recovery will improve water quality and create a more sustainable food system.
click link: The green genius of capturing phosphorus from sewage - Big Think
Scientists warn of ‘phosphogeddon’ as critical fertiliser shortages loom
Our planet faces “phosphogeddon”, scientists have warned. They fear our misuse of phosphorus could lead todeadly shortagesof fertilisers that would disrupt global food production. At the same time, phosphate fertiliser washed from fields – together with sewage inputs into rivers, lakes and seas – is giving rise to widespreadalgal bloomsand creating aquatic dead zones that threaten fish stocks.
click link: Scientists warn of ‘phosphogeddon’ as critical fertiliser shortages loom | Pollution | The Guardian
Extinction Rebellion set up 'crime scene' on River Taff where sewage is dumped
The group set up a 'crime scene' on the banks of the river next to the Taff Trail in Hailey Park, Llandaff North, on Sunday afternoon against the backdrop of sewage waste that includes sanitary products and wet wipes hanging from tree branches to highlight the Taff's current state, and as part of the UK national week of action called "Dirty Water".
Plan to take Welsh water for London stirs painful memories
Thames Water wants to abstract up to 155m litres of water a day from Wales to boost supplies for the most populous part of England in the coming years. It isworking withUnited Utilities, which has a licence to abstract water from Lake Vyrnwy, a reservoir in Powys, and with Severn Trent. But as the graffiti across north Wales in memory of Capel Celyn show, water continues to be an emotive subject in the country.
click link: ‘Very sensitive subject’: plan to take Welsh water for London stirs painful memories | Wales | The Guardian
Australia mass fish deaths in Darling River March 2023
Global warming is a danger to river life - It follows previous large-scale fish deaths in the same area in 2018 and 2019 as a result of poor water quality and sudden temperature changes. The state planning and environment agency warned river oxygen levels could fall further this weekend as temperatures rise.
Public warned to avoid Newport Beach after raw sewage spill - 19 Mar 23
The charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS)issued the alert as sewage leaks worsen amid heavy rainfall in recent days. The sewage has leaked from major works and pipelines, seeing waste discharged into the sea. An alerts has been issued for Newport Beach where sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. The beach is serviced by a relatively new sewage treatment works that usually discharges biologically treated sewage effluent via the long sea outfall, some 700m from the coast into Newport Bay.
click link: Public warned to avoid Newport Beach after raw sewage spill | Western Telegraph
Climate - The BIG One - 21 April 2023
On Friday the 21st of April, 100,000 people will be demonstrating in Westminster with a focus on the Climate Crisis, and demanding the government accelerate its action on this.
Climate-concerned individuals and organisationswill be travelling from all over the country and if you want to be a part of that: Coaches will be going from West Wales.
No direct action tactics that impact on thepublic are planned or expected, in order to make the gathering on the 21st of April onwards accessible to all.
Whilst radical direct action may have helped a Climate Emergency be declared, without the demonstrable support of the mass populace, the UK Government will still not act with the urgency required.
Therefore to effect the needed change, the intention is that NGOs, faith groups, community groups, unions, environmental groups and individuals will all join together in Westminster on the 21st of April to create a moment in history. A time and place where a new identity will be founded, one that will show what the people want and what the people need,to those who represent us in Parliament.
See the Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2698429613622458
More details can be found on this link: http://tinyurl.com/BigOneWestWales
Which includes information about coaches going from West Wales on 21st, and dedicated accommodation in London for those who can stay for the weekend, up to Monday 24th.
Cardigan XR Group are focussing on rivers and hope to have a King Canute type theme or similar as part of the Dirty Water campaign.
Find out more about the Dirty Water Campaign here: Dirty Water Campaign | Rebel Toolkit (extinctionrebellion.uk)
All the national movements which will be supporting The Big One can be seen here on the Big One Supporters list - https://www.facebook.com/XRebellionUK/posts/pfbid02MZ38yaycQQr1BEKwL4yh6CZvM2YFCwL3PhwSdP3eVMfixTkeZm41uxdDggNLqnAjl
So it looks as if The Big One will be BIG!
“Welcoming Back Teifi Salmon Day” – 1st April 2023
11:00 am at St. Dogmaels, Alexandra Gardens/Teifi Net Pool Car Park
A fun event celebrating the return of the Salmon from the Sea at the Teifi estuary. There will be a river blessing, musical performance, group activities and interactive story telling from professional artists.
- Meet at the carpark, welcome from WWRT and opening talk, musical parade to the net pool and blessing stone near the water’s edge.
- Historical account of Teifi Salmon from locals; including anglers and coracle fishermen
- Musical performance and activities.
- Personal wishes for the Teifi & reflection.
- Interactive story telling
Open to suggestions, performances, and partners. Please contact nathaniel@westwalesriverstrust.org
Farming
Farming: New Welsh rules on reducing river pollution delayed
Controversial rules aimed at reducing agricultural pollution in rivers are being delayed by three months, the Welsh government has announced. 5 October 2022
click link: Farming: New Welsh rules on reducing river pollution delayed - BBC News
Scrapping farm nature payments may worsen English river pollution up to 20%
Weakening or scrapping the nature-friendly farmingpayment schemescould increase river pollution by up to 20%, an analysis has found.
The payments are due to replace the EU’s area-based payments scheme, in which farmers are paid for the amount of land they manage. The new system would instead pay land managers to provide “public goods” such as enhanced nature and clean rivers.
click link: Scrapping farm nature payments may worsen English river pollution up to 20% | Rivers | The Guardian
Livestock farming polluted rivers 300 times in one year
Livestock farms in England polluted rivers 300 times last year, causing 20 major incidents, according to the latest government figures.
Yet only six farms were prosecuted in 2021, with the Environment Agency giving out warning letters instead.
click link: Livestock farming polluted rivers 300 times in one year - BBC News
Farmers’ union called UK environment targets ‘irrational’ and ‘unachievable’
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) raised questions about the government’s proposed targets on water pollution, tree planting and rewilding, calling them “irrational” and “unachievable”, according to documents published by the environment department.
click link: Farmers’ union called UK environment targets ‘irrational’ and ‘unachievable’ | Farming | The Guardian
Study finds small isolated wetlands are pollution-catching powerhouses
Small isolated wetlands that are full for only part of the year are often the first to be removed for development or agriculture, but a new study shows that they can be twice as effective in protecting downstream lake or river ecosystems than if they were connected to them.
click link: Study finds small isolated wetlands are pollution-catching powerhouses (phys.org)
An Integrated Constructed Wetland (ICW) has been created on 15ha of land in the Stiffkey catchment to provide a sustainable, low-carbon, natural wastewater treatment system that will also boost biodiversity.
click link: Norfolk Rivers Trust | Stiffkey Integrated Constructed Wetland
Note however that half the wetlands in Europe have been lost in past 300 years
click link: Half the wetlands in Europe lost in past 300 years, researchers calculate | Biodiversity | The Guardian
Raw sewage meeting to be full house in Shrewsbury
Campaign group Up Sewage Creek and Shrewsbury Town Council are hosting the meeting at Theatre Severn on Monday, February 27. All the tickets for the 250-seat Walker Theatre have been snapped up.
click link: Raw sewage meeting to be full house in Shrewsbury | Shropshire Star
Shrewsbury seeks solutions to River Severn pollution
About 250 people attended the meeting and afterwards Ms Halliday said she believed there would be some "small, gradual changes" but they were not enough. She said there needed to be a "push at the local level" and suggested Shrewsbury might want to set itself a target of achieving bathing water status.
Clink link: Shrewsbury seeks solutions to River Severn pollution - BBC News
Llanina Wastewater Treatment Works Open Day - Thu 23rd March
Following multiple requests from various stakeholders, Welsh Water have arranged a specific Ceredigion based Wastewater Treatment Works Open Day. Initially offering the sessions to parties who have voiced interest they will extend to others if spaces allow.
Attendees will be shown around the works, explaining how wastewater gets there, how it is treated and returned to the waterways, including the science behind it all.
These sessions will be on a first come first serve basis, with limited capacity per tour slot. Please note, this session is outside, subject to cancellation in poor weather. Please inform Welsh Water of any accessibility concerns and they will discuss further.
Please register your interest by emailing @River Quality Liaison and Welsh Water will be in touch.
See pdf version of image above:: Llanina Open Day 23-Mar-2023
Welsh Water publishes long term plans to help protect Teifi
Under its plans, the company has identified where either investment or modifications are required at its sites based along the rivers which will reduce or limit the amount of phosphorus that enters the rivers from its wastewater treatment process.
See also: Understanding the sources of phosphorus in our rivers