We have an incredibly passionate and engaged community network in the Erme catchment. Our community events are a great way to get involved and meet likeminded people with a passion to help improve river health.
River Cleans
On Sunday 8th October 2023 the first of three river cleans on the River Erme was completed in Ivybridge led by PL:21 with support from WATER. Approximately 16 people from 6 year olds to 60 yrs olds came together for a couple of hours in the sunshine. The result was 6 full bags of mainly food and drink litter collected and prevented from entering the river system. Previous cleans have removed bulkier items from the river itself so it increasingly we are recovering small litter.
On Sunday 15th the second river clean took place at Holbeton along the banks of the Erme estuary led by our Networking co-ordinator John Mildmay-White. 28 locals (from 3 months to 70 years old!) came together to retrieve rubbish trapped within the reedbeds along the banks – a muddy affair, but the delicious cakes and warm tea afterwards made it all worthwhile….!
The final river clean was led by Ermington Environmental and took place on Saturday 21st of October. Again another excellent turnout with 13 people from Ermington, Modbury and Bittaford. It was a great networking opportunity and the homemade soup was well received afterwards.
We would like to thank Ivybridge Town Council who kindly provided the pitter pickers and bag hoops, and SAS who also provided river clean support and equipment.
WATER hopes to arrange further cleans in the spring next year so please sign up for our mailing list to find out the dates closer to the time.
