MEMBERS of English Bicknor Women’s Institute became “citizen scientists” as part of their campaign against water pollution.

The group organised two days walking along the banks of the River Wye to raise awareness, displaying banners and testing for bacteria in the water as part of Rivers Action Week.

The first walk started at Lydbrook on Tuesday, September 30 and the second was from the Wilton Road car park in Ross on Saturday (October 4).

They also heard from representatives of law firm LeighDay, which is heading legal action over alleged pollution of the rivers Wye, Lugg and Usk.

They also took the campaign to the centre of Coleford with a stall raising awareness of the need to act over river pollution.

They have also written to Forest MP Matt Bishop and the government asking for action.

Susan Yemm, Secretary of English Bicknor WI said: “The sewage crisis is also a microplastics crisis.

“Even when microplastics make it to sewage treatment plants, the majority is spread on to agricultural land, where it accumulates in the soil or leaches into nature.

“We urgently need much more information and transparency about what is in the sludge.”

The WI has been campaigning on water pollution for nearly 100 years, and is deeply concerned about the growing evidence that sewage – both raw and treated – is a major pathway for microplastics and other harmful substances to enter nature and the food chain.

The organisation welcomed the Independent Water Commission’s recent report but still worries that tonnes of microplastics are still being pumped into nature every day, and calls for both mid- and long-term solutions, such as tighter regulation of sewage sludge, mandatory microplastic washing machine filters; and extended producer responsibility for synthetic textiles.

As part of Rivers Action Week, members of the Women’s Institute from across England and Wales gathered on the banks of the River Wye on Saturday (October 4), for a colourful campaign rally.

The gathering at Monmouth Rowing Club brought together five WI federations from both sides of the border, alongside campaign partners including Surfers Against Sewage and River Action.

WI members donned water-themed fancy dress and posed with a unique example of WI ‘craftivism’ – the “Loch Mess Monster”; to highlight the urgent need for action on pollution in the Wye and rivers nationwide.

The afternoon includes a welcome from Jill Rundle, Chair of NFWI-Wales, updates on the WI’s clean rivers campaign and new research findings, followed by an indoor picnic for members and guests.

Jill Rundle, the Chair of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes, Wales said: “Every day, new evidence emerges about the risks of microplastic pollution.

Our new research, carried out by Opinium for the Week of River Action, shows that 44 per cent of the public have changed their own behaviour because they are concerned, and over half think that the government and polluters are not doing enough to tackle the issue.

The WI launched the Clean Rivers for People and Wildlife campaign in 2023.