MORE than 90 people from the Alcester area packed out a community centre on November 8 to attend the launch of a new river action group aiming to clean up the Arrow and Alne.
Attendees at the Eric Payne Community Centre heard keynote talks from four expert speakers to celebrate the start of the River Arrow & Alne Revival CIC (RAAR), a voluntary group that aims to make the waterways healthier, accessible and more biodiverse.
These were Ed Noyes, from the Wild Trout Trust, Dr Geoff Sallis, founder of the SafeAvon Network, Pershore’s Michael Chapman-Pincher, founder of the Sister Rivers Initiative and anthropologist, Dr Mary Manandhar, of River Hope, which focuses on the water catchments of the Avon, Arrow and Stour.
Pershore town councillor Michael Chapman-Pincher, founder of the Sister Rivers Initiative. Picture by Lise Evans
Stratford MP Manuela Perteghella and district councillor Susan Juned (Alcester East) also had a chance to address the audience.
RAAR joins the growing number of community groups across the UK that are forming to take direct action to protect rivers from raw sewage discharges, chemical pollution, drought, flooding, and habitat loss.
Ellie Cooke, director and founder of RAAR, said: “Seeing the room so full confirmed how much these rivers mean to people.
“There is a shared commitment to restoring the Arrow and the Alne, and to working together across the communities that live along them.
“This really feels like the beginning of something we can grow together.”
RAAR director Elisabeth Sandbrook and Lauren Matheson, with Councillor Susan Juned, RAAR founder director Ellie Cooke and Manuella Perteghella MP. Picture by Lise Evans
Over winter, volunteers are forming small local groups for water testing, habitat work, and planning community activities.
“There will be opportunities for everyone to take part, with practical river work beginning in spring,” she added.
Ellie and fellow directors are currently recruiting volunteers to help RAAR’s mission in a number of ways, from practical river work to fundraising.
RAAR has been supported with a £750 Community Climate Change and Nature Recovery Grant from Stratford District Council, which it received through Alcester Town Council.
For more information, email [email protected].
