Home / Environment / Young environmentalists find Dedham river 'dying'
Young environmentalists find Dedham river 'dying'
12 Jul
Summary
- Children discovered concerning pollution levels in the River Stour.
- Pupils are planning to write to their MP about installing a storm drain.
- The river is a nationally-important landscape immortalized by John Constable.
Children in Dedham, Essex, have raised concerns about the health of the River Stour, describing it as 'dying' due to pollution. Pupils from Dedham Church of England Primary School collaborated with the charity PACE (Practical Actions for Climate and the Environment) to conduct water quality sampling.
The Year Four students were reportedly disheartened by the results but are motivated to educate the public. They are planning to contact their Member of Parliament, Bernard Jenkin, to advocate for the installation of a storm drain on the nearby A12 to mitigate chemical runoff.
The River Stour, situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and famously depicted by artist John Constable, has also seen recent increases in litter and parking issues. The riverfly monitoring technique used by the children helps detect deterioration in water quality by assessing invertebrate life.
The Environment Agency acknowledged the 'citizen science' efforts and highlighted the new Water (Special Measures) Act, which aims to enhance regulatory powers over water companies and hold polluters accountable. They also noted that factors like animal waste, road runoff, and litter contribute to water quality issues.
