The protest will involve water lovers paddling out into Windermere. WATER campaigners are going to hold a protest in the Lake District against sewage pollution. Surfers Against Sewage will hold a national protest on the issue on May 20 at 11am. Windermere campaigners will gather at Borrans Park, Ambleside and then paddle out into the lake. Catherine Higgins, from the group, said: "We need to do something about it. By holding this protest we're aiming to get people aware of what's happening, get people to sign a petition which can make change happen and make a loud noise so United Utilities can hear us." She asked protesters to bring water crafts, placards, banners and friends and family to Windermere to "save the water." Surfers Against Sewage is a national charity which campaigns on causes related to reducing water pollution. It is calling all water lovers across the UK to get on paddle boards and kayaks and paddle out into bodies of water in protest. Its website hosts a map of popular swimming spots near sewage outlet spots and advises whether or not it is safe to swim out based on if the outlet is discharging. Shortly after this on May 23-24, Matt Staniek will be sampling invertebrate species populations in local rivers in the Windermere catchment. If the counts around sewage discharge points show a decrease in population, Mr Staniek will use this to hold United Utilities to account. A spokesperson for United Utilities said: "We support taking a scientific data-led approach to understanding the health of Windermere. United Utilities is part of the Love Windermere partnership, which is led by the Environment Agency. “The partnership has already commissioned a comprehensive survey - the Big Windermere Survey - which looks at and monitors all aspects of the lake’s health. This is being undertaken by scientific experts from the Freshwater Biological Association and Lancaster University." United Utilities recently announced that it would be investing £19 million into four wastewater treatment works that discharge into Windermere.
0 Comments
Everyone we have spoken to says “What an enthusiastic and happy evening” and we are writing to say a big thank you to everyone who made this such a huge success - in particular -
Brief Report Racing Tiger Boats requires a quick start, teamwork, coordination and some hard graft - Various levels of all of these were achieved! As the evening went on the races became more and more skilled and competitive with lots of happy cheering. 9 races were packed into a hectic 90 minutes of enthusiastic, non-stop racing. The heats were all close with the two fastest teams going through to the final - a young team from Nelson Thomlinson Canoe Club and a composite team (made up on the night) from Copeland and Lakeland Canoe Clubs. There was a dramatic crash in the final - thankfully only a minor bump which did not affect the result, so Nelson Thomlinson was declared a clear winner. Lisa Price of the Marina presented Nelson Thomlinson School Canoe Club with the Jim Wilson trophy and thanked everyone for making it such a happy, enthusiastic event. Photos and Media
Best wishes and happy paddling in the summer ahead! Peter Knowles and Alan Ashby for WCCC and Cumbria Canoeists. Monday 3rd April 2023 PRESS RELEASE: Huge haul of rubbish retrieved from the river Kent thanks to volunteer litter pickers’ fantastic efforts, both on land and water! The Clean River Kent Campaign (CRKC), in partnership with the Lakeland Canoe Club, Save our Rivers, Trash Free Trails and Westmorland (Kent) Angling Association organised a river clean-up on Sunday 2nd April between Staveley and Burneside. Over 40 volunteers from communities along the river collected about a tonne of waste in just a few hours – a great achievement, but which also sadly reveals just how much litter exists in this precious landscape. On Sunday 2nd April volunteers from Staveley, Bowston, Burneside, Kendal and other communities along the river Kent gathered in Staveley at 10am for the start of a river walk / paddle down the river Kent to Millennium Green, Burneside, collecting rubbish along the way. Isobel Stoddart, CRKC Chair said, “It was wonderful to see people of all ages turn out to help clean up the river Kent – a real community effort. I think that everyone was both surprised and shocked by the amount of rubbish collected on what appears to be, on first appearance, a relatively litter-free stretch of the river. There was everything from traffic cones to toilet seats, metal pipes and plastic toys. The amount of black plastic and discarded dog poo bags was particularly noticeable.” Whilst 2 teams made their way along the footpaths either side of the river gathering litter on-land, members of the Lakeland Canoe Club accompanied by a family in an inflatable raft retrieved rubbish that had got lodged behind rocks in, and on branches over, the river. Wyn, a volunteer from Kendal explained, “Whilst there was a really positive atmosphere, and everyone taking part seemed to have a good time, the huge pile of litter told a very clear story – we need to look after our rivers and stop using them as a rubbish bin. Not only is it unsafe for people using the river, but the creatures in the water will also be suffering from all the waste entering the watercourse. Please think before you litter along our precious river – take it home instead!” For over a year now the Clean River Kent Campaign has been calling for United Utilities to clean up their act and stop discharging untreated sewage into the river. They are also calling on people who enjoy the river to play their part too and stop dumping rubbish either in, or along the banks of the river. The Clean River Kent Campaign is very grateful to Westmorland & Furness Council for providing the litter pickers and bags; to British Canoeing for sponsoring the event, and to all the volunteers who took part. The group hope to hold further litter picks along the river throughout 2023, working their way down the river to Kendal and beyond. Details will be publicised via their Facebook page: @cleanriverkent, or you can sign up to their monthly newsletter via: senstaveley@gmail.com Notes for Editors:
A cracking start for the Sea Kayak Starters and Returners Tuesday evenings series at Killington on Tuesday April 4th.
A big group of 11 enthusiasts (9 women and two men) enjoyed Killington at its best. Thanks to Mike, Mac and Marie for coaching. A fabulous evening.
You can find the latest update about the campaign here
Paddler Magazine caught up with Mike Hayward recently, many of you will have met Mike over the year.
You can read the article here
Have you seen our River Champions Act for Eden's Rivers film yet? Created with students from Lowther Endowed school and filmmaker, Janine Bebbington, the film explains where our drinking water comes from, where the wastewater goes and challenges everyone to save water and reduce pollution to protect nature!
https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/proginfo/2023/10/paul-whitehouse-our-troubled-rivers IPlayer Catch Up: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m001jw74/paul-whitehouse-our-troubled-rivers Paul Waterhouse our Troubled Rivers - feature Yorkshire & Lake District - how the quality of our rivers is being destroyed by the discharging water companies. A series of two - this eve and next Sunday. Channel 2 Channel. 2 Date Sunday, 5 March, 2023 Time 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm Updates Confirmed for BBC Two on 5 March at 8pm to 9pm. Paul Whitehouse travels around England and Wales looking at the pressures affecting our rivers and waterways from water companies, intensive agriculture and growing population. Paul explores what is going on beneath the surface, why our rivers and waterways are in decline and what needs to be done to protect them. In the first episode, Paul travels through the North of England looking at the impact water companies have on our rivers. He explores the change in the water industry since privatisation in 1989 and what regulations are in place when it comes to sewage discharge into our rivers. He meets concerned locals in Yorkshire looking to highlight the health of the River Wharfe, a conservationist who warns of the ecological decline in iconic Lake Windemere ………………. A MUST for All paddlers. Perhaps this accounts for some of the recent paddler illnesses - Weils Disease and Gairdia?
|
Pictures from some of our adventuresArchives
April 2024
Categories |