Page 8 - Natural World Summer 2018
P. 8
PEOPLE & WILDLIFE
of sluggish rivers, meres and reed MATT GAW The Tame more natural state: re-instating
swamp fanning out over the land. has the meanders, allowing woody debris to
Ribbons of grey silt called ‘rhodons’ world’s worst be left and removing barriers to
can still be seen from the air, cutting microplastic migrating fish. The otter, pushed to
across the arable expanse: a ghost pollution the brink by a toxic cocktail of
river tracking across the black earth. pesticides and persecution, has now
of the country and The Wildlife returned to every county in England.
While the decline of industry and Trusts are part of 96% of them –
more e ective regulations have advising, supporting and directly Nevertheless, many of our
improved water quality, pollutants managing nearly 12,000 miles of freshwater bodies are not faring well
still make their way into our rivers. waterway. Plans typically focus on against targets set by the the EU
Topsoil washed by heavy rain from reducing pollution and restoring a Water Framework Directive. Less
fields brings phosphates, nitrates, than a fifth of England’s rivers and
herbicides and pesticides. Sewage Matt’s canoe, lakes are in a good enough condition
and wastewater bring microplastics The Pipe, on to support species that should be
and pharmaceuticals. the Waveney present.
In 2016, 16 British waterways were Part of this is due to the sheer
tested for neonicotinoids, a powerful extent of the issues: it is a landscape-
insecticide. The Waveney in Su olk scale problem. I wonder too if there
was the most contaminated, the is a disconnect between people and
acute harm level exceeded for a rivers. Our relationship with the
whole month. The River Tame at water that shaped life, language and
Denton, Greater Manchester has the culture has changed dramatically
worst microplastic pollution in the over the years. Although the move
world, with levels even greater than away from industry may have
South Korea and Hong Kong. resulted in fewer pollutants – no coal
dust, no heavy metals or slicks of
It is easy to feel gloomy. I have sewage – it also means our
canoed all across the UK, and for interaction with rivers has
every stretch of bucolic beauty there declined. Flows that were
is also abuse and neglect. But there is once worshipped and
also hope. There are catchment- sacred, full of votive
scale partnerships now in every part
The River Itchen, with
blunt-fruited water-starwort
below the surface and
Itchen Stoke Mill above
LINDA PITKIN
8 NATURAL WORLD SUMMER 2018
