Flowing from mid-Wales to the Severn estuary in England, the River Wye - one of the UK’s longest watercourses – is impacted by everything that happens in its large catchment. It has suffered from years of pollution which has seen its waters coloured bright green from blooms of algae and its wildlife populations decimated. Last week, Natural England, the Westminster government’s advisory body, downgraded the official status of the English parts of the Wye to ‘unfavourable-declining’, due to the declines in key species such as the Atlantic salmon and white-clawed crayfish, as well as aquatic plants such as water crowfoot. The River Lugg, a tributary of the Wye which runs through Herefordshire, was similarly downgraded. Both rivers are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) which should afford them the highest environmental protections.

On the same day that the downgrades were announced, (30^th May, 2023) Thérèse Coffey, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs chaired a round-table in Hereford to discuss the issues and possible solutions. But this is not the first roundtable to be held, or the first UK or Welsh Ministerial visit to the river, and so far, warm words have not halted the river’s demise.

The meeting included representatives from the farming community, agri-businesses, local government and English and Welsh regulatory bodies, as well as eNGOS including Herefordshire Wildlife Trust. Attendees discussed the issues and barriers to progress including the lack of a collaborative catchment-wide plan, a lack of data and a lack of clear advice and support for landowners, before moving on to discuss solutions through collaborative working.

Jamie Audsley, Herefordshire Wildlife Trust CEO, attended the round table and reported:

“Not inviting citizen science groups to the meeting was a lost opportunity to hear from our communities who are so passionate and knowledgeable about our rivers. However, the roundtable was an opportunity for positive, cross sector, cross country collaboration, and I felt all parties around the table were committed to working together to solve the major issues affecting the Wye. There was strong support for joined-up action that crossed the border but this needs to happen urgently as part of a radical change in approach. Welsh and UK government leaders have committed to returning to the catchment together and announcing tangible action by end of the summer. But there’s much more to be done in the meantime.”

Following the meeting Thérèse Coffey tweeted:

“Great to be in Hereford for River Wye round table… Critical we accelerate action and collaboration to address phosphorous pollution.”

Around three quarters of this pollution in the Wye is known to come from agriculture, particularly through excess livestock and chicken manure applied to the land. Roundtable attendees spoke of their optimism that technological fixes will see the excess phosphate removed from manures, so that they can still be applied, providing other nutrients necessary for farming and improving soil health. Yet any such solution may be some years off; time the river Wye may simply not have. We need to stop agricultural pollution now and not pin our hopes on some unknown technological solution.  

The Wildlife Trusts along the route of the River Wye are calling for an immediate policy moratorium on intensive livestock production units; regulators to be properly resourced such that they can carry out appropriate inspections and enforcements; and for all stakeholders to work towards a shared vision for halting farm pollution in the River Wye catchment, with farmers properly rewarded for providing public goods.

James Hitchcock, Radnorshire Wildlife CEO commented:

“While we’re pleased to see the state of our rivers being taken seriously by Defra, we were disappointed by a lack of representation from Welsh national and local government at this roundtable. As the River Wye runs along the Welsh and English borders it’s critical that action happens in equal measure in both countries. Welsh Government have prioritised the need to address issues but has yet to invest in new measures. However, it has convened a Phosphate Summit that Wildlife Trusts Wales attends. This is examining a collective Team Wales approach to addressing the many issues facing the restoration of the river, including runoff from farms and sewerage works.”

Over the summer, staff and members of Herefordshire and Radnorshire Wildlife Trusts will be attending the AGMs of major supermarkets. They will ask what each supermarket is doing to ensure their supply chain is not contributing to the pollution of our rivers and what more they could do.

On 17th July The Wildlife Trusts are also convening a round table to enable regulators, supermarkets and farmers to work with local stakeholders and Wildlife Trusts to create a shared vision for halting farm pollution in the River Wye catchment. Alongside government action, such local leadership is necessary if we are to see the Wye restored and its wildlife thriving once again.