Helping to highlight the plight of our region’s beautiful rivers, children from Years 5 and 6 at Ysgol Gynradd Aberaeron dedicated a morning to collecting litter from the Aeron river with the West Wales Rivers Trust.

The children take part in regular litter-picks with Keep Wales Tidy, so when the West Wales Rivers Trust were scouting for volunteers to help them with Spring Clean Cymru, the school were eager to do their bit.

Starting in the harbour at low tide, the children helped to remove fragmented plastics, ropes and even large metal items from the tidal area before walking alongside the bank of the river to prevent more litter entering the waterway.

The event was supported by Keep Wales Tidy who provided their expertise and equipment, and members of the Rotary Club of Aberaeron who marshalled as well as getting thoroughly stuck in.

“The children were incredibly enthusiastic and thorough,” said Kathy James, trust development officer for the West Wales Rivers Trust.

“We’d like to take them on a tour of west Wales as we couldn’t ask for a better clean-up team!”

The West Wales Rivers Trust works alongside farmers to encourage best practice for water quality, with fishermen to improve habitats for wildlife, and with local volunteers to monitor river health.

This recent effort from Ysgol Gynradd Aberaeron kick-starts the organisation’s Prosiect Aeron Project.

“By removing litter from the waterway we are able to show a visible improvement,” said Kathy.

“Now we hope to thoroughly survey the river from source to sea to identify any less visible improvements needed for optimal water quality and habitat. We are currently looking for local businesses to help fund this process.”

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