Residents start river clean-up
A LARGE clean-up along the River Teifi in Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion is being launched.
Newcastle Emlyn residents are organising the first stage of a wider effort starting at two locations along the river on Sunday, June 20, at 1pm.
The campaign is being called Teifi River Clean.
Following the flooding of the River Teifi earlier this year, local residents were appalled at the huge amount of plastic litter that was left strewn along its banks.
A recent walk along the river revealed numerous multicoloured rubble bags, black silage wrapping and other plastic litter caught up on bushes and trees.
Among those organising the cleanup is Marco Rebora, who lives next to the river.
He said: “The River Teifi is not a public toilet, it is not a public tip or a dustbin.
“The Teifi is not only an artery but the river should also be a safe haven for a rich diversity of wildlife and to provide joy for all types of activities such as canoeing, fishing, walking and swimming.
“In partnership with Llandysul Paddlers, Adventure Beyond, Canoe Wales, West Wales Rivers Trust and members of the fishing community, a river clean has been organised with the purpose of cleaning up the litter and raising awareness of the issues of plastic in our watercourses.”
In its first year, the group aims to clean the river from the village of Henllan to Newcastle Emlyn.
The long-term aim is to establish an annual river clean along the entire length of the river, encouraging and educating riverside communities to join in and to take responsibility and encourage ‘ownership’ of the river.
The 76-mile Teifi is one of the longest rivers in Wales and is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) as well as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
The group hopes to work with land managers and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) on future clean-up projects.
Jill Sutton, co-founder of Newcastle Emlyn’s Fair Trade and sustainability shop Fair and Fabulous, said: “The River Teifi should be a positive advert for Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire our jewel in the crown, which should reflect its protected status.
“As a long campaigner against the increasing use of single-use plastics I find it deeply frustrating that there is little improvement in the situation, indeed the plastic problem appears to be getting worse.
“However we can all do something to help fight the tide of littering and plastic pollution in our countryside and waterways.”
The group is keen to invite the general public to
River Clean.
■ Anyone interested should make contact by email at teifiriverclean@ gmail.com take part in the
Teifi