A DITCH in an Aberystwyth park which is a magnet for litter and fly-tipping is worth preserving for natural and historical reasons, an environmental group has said.

As part of our Keep Aber Tidy campaign, the Cambrian News has spoken with the Greener Aberystwyth Group, which was established in 2006 with the aim of enhancing and protecting green spaces and street trees in Aberystwyth, Llanbadarn Fawr and Penparcau.

One project the group has been working on since its inception is the protection of Nant Plascrug, or Plascrug stream, which many people will simply know as ‘the ditch’ in Plascrug Avenue.

Meg Kirby, secretary of GAG, told the Cambrian News: “There are two main reasons for wanting to keep this stream open rather than channel it into a pipe, as has happened to many of Aberystwyth’s watercourses over the years.

“The first is historical — the ditch is a remnant of the mill leat that once carried water from a weir on the Rheidol to power the grain mill that stood in Mill Street, near to Trefechan Bridge.

“The second is that the stream is a significant source of water and habitat for wildlife."

And Mrs Kirby thanked volunteers, the council, and local businesses for their support in keeping the ditch clear of rubbish, which often includes larger items such as shopping trolleys.

If you would like to volunteer with GAG to help clean up the Plascrug Avenue Stream, or to get involved with the other work they do, e-mail Meg Kirby at [email protected] or visit www.facebook.com/aber.gag.

See this week's Aberystwyth edition for the full story, in shops and online now