River Wye protestors stressed the role of farming at a water demo

A river of protesters flooded London on Sunday (November 3) in an urgent call for clean water including a 3m tall Goddess of the River Wye, evoking the spirit of the iconic river and the ecosystems at risk.

Over 150 people from Powys, Herefordshire and the Forest of Dean joined thousands in mass protest, urging the government to end the pollution of Britain’s waterways. 

The colourful Wye contingent dressed in blue and with banners blazing, were united in their desire to see the river cleaned up so it once again becomes a place that children can play and wildlife can thrive.

The campaigners marched alongside 130 other organisations coordinated by River Action plus celebrities including Chris Packham, broadcaster and activist Carol Vorderman, actor and musician Johnny Flynn (Ripley on Netflix), actor Jim Murray (The Crown), Olympic champion rower Imogen Grant, bestselling author Robert Macfarlane, and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

For many on the March such as Surfers Against Sewage, the main concern was the profiteering water companies that discharge vast volumes of sewage into our rivers and seas. 

For those who set off early on Sunday morning on the three coaches from Hereford, Hay and Lydney, their target was agricultural pollution. In particular the huge amounts of chicken manure that are still spread on the land and so washes unchecked into the Wye and its tributaries.

“Water pollution is not just caused by water companies but also by American-style intensive agriculture that has proliferated along the Wye. Whilst Save the Wye welcomes moves to prevent sewage pollution, this is only a small part of the problem for the Wye” said Richard Tyler of Save the Wye. 

“Multi-billion pound American companies like Cargill - and their local sidekick Avara - have poisoned the Wye for profit knowing full well what would happen. We need a Water Protection Zone to reduce all of the pollution entering the river.”

David Gillam of Save the Wye said; “The Wye is in failing health. If it was a hospital or a school it would be put in ‘special measures’ so that the right, focused efforts could be made to turn things round. The Government has the power to designate the Wye as a ‘Water Protection Zone’ enabling the coordinated control of pollution”.

Joseph Emmett, Will Shipley and Dave Prosser-Painting ran a marathon among the River Thames from Walton to Westminster before the March for Clean Water to press the issue that time really is running out for our waterways. 

Joseph Emmett, “Like our Run the Wye event last summer, with Harvey Pawson, we want to stress that we need solutions to help save our rivers, lakes and seas. After all they are all connected, in nature and spirit, and we are too, we need them to allow nature and humans to thrive.”

Save the Wye is calling for - a Water Protection Zone for the river – an ecological version of ‘special measures’, a Wye Recovery Fund based on the polluter pays principle, regulations and enforcement to be strengthened as is happening for the Waste Water Industry and for consumers to be empowered to support river friendly farming through pricing and labelling strategies

Chris Packham, “So, what is it going to take, because human fatalities are also a real possibility when our water is so polluted. And please be aware, this isn’t all about sewage, agricultural run-off is also a killer and must be properly regulated. Today we kicked up a stink, if politicians don’t listen, we will get a lot smellier.”

 An Avara Foods spokesman said: “Given the prospect of a legal claim against us, we are not commenting publicly on any aspect of the River Wye.”

Cargill were also asked to comment but failed to do so before publication.