Farmers ditch deadly sprays to save our waterways
FARMERS are swapping harmful chemicals for nature-friendly practices to reduce pollution in rivers.
Run-off from agriculture is one of the biggest polluters of waterways in Britain, with 83% of English rivers having evidence of contamination from sewage and farming.
Now farm manager Matt Griffin, 46, is on a mission to “rewild soil” and ensure clearer water runs into the River Tweed at Neidpath Farms in Peebles, Scotland.
He said: “We are awakening the soil. It’s a fantastic opportunity to create a sponge for water and carbon. Alongside our mob grazing, we are growing fungi-rich compost to amend the soil.
“We are changing our ability to hold on to water in the landscape. This slows the water and stops soil and nutrient erosion, resulting in clearer water running into the river.”
Phil Carson, head of policy at the Nature Friendly Farming Network, said: “Despite water’s invaluable presence across our landscapes, the health and condition have plummeted in recent years.
“The collective impact of sewage, agricultural run-off and plastic pollution has left our rivers in a sorry state.
“We know our farmland’s degraded soils and over-reliance on pesticides and artificial fertilisers have led to excess chemicals and nutrients in our waterways.
“But we also know that farming has a huge opportunity to provide many of the solutions to help restore our rivers.”
Some farm businesses pollute waterways by spreading excess animal waste on their land. When it rains, this runs off into local rivers, which causes nutrient pollution and, in severe cases, ecosystem collapse. Rivers are awash with manure, fertiliser and pesticides from farming, alongside sewage, it was said. Only 14% of England’s rivers meet good ecological status, official statistics show.
More than 384,000 discharges of raw sewage were reported by water companies across England and Wales in 2022.
Dead fish were even seen in Rotten Calder River, South Lanarkshire, inset.
The Daily Express’s Green Britain Needs You campaign has highlighted the state of the nation’s waterways. The crusade marks its three-year anniversary today.