Take action
Take action

Campaigns

Latest

View All

Justice for Lough Neagh

View campaign

Toxic Sludge

View campaign

Category: Blog

Save Leagh Neagh: An unprecedented crisis deserves an unprecedented response

Posted on by Molly Allen
By Pádraig Mac Niocaill, Save Lough Neagh campaigner

The collapse of Ireland’s largest freshwater lake

In the summer of 2023, Lough Neagh, the largest lake in Ireland and Britain, and one of the largest freshwater lakes in Europe, reached a tipping point. The water entered a phase of extreme eutrophication, when water is overly saturated with nutrients, leading to yearly spells where the Lough is coated in thick, toxic algal blooms. 

For four years now, this cycle has repeated, with dead animals washing up along the shores, and the neon green algae visible from flights over the lough, and seen even from space. The taste of tap water has also been affected locally, with many locals not trusting the water, and health concerns proliferating far and wide. For those who can afford it, bottled water has become the only trusted drinking water supply.

Algal blooms in Lough Neagh ©SaveLoughNeagh

Going for algae growth

Much debate has surrounded the primary reason for the Lough’s collapse. Going for Growth, a scheme in 2014, supported by the five main parties of Stormont, sought to supercharge the agri-food sector of the North, with no mind paid to the waste, is widely identified as being one of the main contributors.

Multi-billion pound agri-food companies that benefited from this scheme, convicted of environmental breaches receive barely a slap on the wrist. Sand dredging, of which the absentee landlord of the Lough, the Earl of Shaftesbury, still profits from every tonne dredged, has been highlighted as causing further harm to an already fragile ecosystem. And after decades of cuts, NI Water also dumps millions of tonnes of untreated sewage into our waterways.

On each of these causes and more, there is a major debate about which is the main one to blame, but the truth is, it is all of these things. The ecocide taking place at Lough Neagh is not a natural occurrence, it is a direct result of governance and political choices, as a resource to be exploited, not our home that provides 40% of the north with our drinking water.

Bloom of resistance

Since the algae blooms in 2023, the Save Lough Neagh campaign, a coalition of loughshore people affected by the crisis, fishermen, swimmers, environmental and political activists, have been rallying for change. Protests have taken place at each of the corners of the lough, Feargal Sharkey, a Derry-native, speaking at the Think Left conference in 2023, gave support to the first March for Lough Neagh, where hundreds marched to City Hall in Belfast, later followed by a a tie-in ‘March for Clean Water’ to coincide with the large London protest organised by River Action UK in November 2024.

Sustained pressure has caused the Earl of Shaftesbury to change his tune from “being treated like any other business‘, to ‘open to giving it away for free, though he still hasn’t fulfilled or given a timeline for the handover that would greatly address the deadlock the current approach to the crisis is calling out for.

The campaign calls for an end to the Going for Growth pollutive policy, an end to subsidies and rates relief to large polluters, an end to private ownership of the Lough by the Earl of Shaftesbury, a moratorium on factory farms and sand dredging, a well-funded water service, and Rights of Nature status for Lough Neagh.

 

The march for Lough Neagh

This February, signs of toxic algae appeared in spots around the shore, earlier than previous years. Leading to discussion about how to escalate the fight for the year ahead. There was appetite for a march for the Lough, at the Lough itself.

Fisherman and organiser with the Save Lough Neagh campaign, Declan Coney, had been on a massive anti-lignite march in 1986, where communities successfully mobilised along the western shore of Lough Neagh to defend the area from proposed lignite extraction by BP and Stormont.

Fisherman Declan Coney, looking out at the flotilla of boats taking part in the protest ©SaveLoughNeagh

It was decided that a 40th anniversary march would take place on Sunday 17th May and retrace the steps of the 1986 Ardboe march to connect the issues of our current government’s complicity in the crisis at Lough Neagh today, as well as to connect the fight against extraction in the the Sperrins to the mining of sand in Lough Neagh, and to highlight the monumental success of people power in the past. 

Ahead of the march, a Save Lough Neagh Film Festival & Conference was held on the southern shore in Lurgan, to bring environmental partners Friends of the Earth NI, The Gathering, Save Our Sperrins and many other groups together to unite around the issues, and build for the march. 

On the day of the march, locals counted over 2,000 at the start of the march, with many spectators from across the Lough and beyond, making it the largest mobilisation for the Lough yet. The March for Lough Neagh was also joined by a flotilla of dozens of boats along the route and a small farmer rally, echoing similar broad mobilisation in 1986. A tie-in protest at the Earl of Shaftesbury’s estate also took place at his estate in Dorset led by Right to Roam. The 1986 anti-lignite march was fought to protect a single area from mining, but the crisis facing Lough Neagh today is deeply systemic. 

The March for Lough Neagh ©Brendan Harkin

Winning this fight will require an unprecedented coalition fighting everywhere from the courtrooms to the streets. The March for Lough Neagh proved that people will turn out to stand up for our environment and clean drinking water. Now, we must use that momentum as the foundation for a movement that fights to put the planet and all who live on it above profit.

Yes, the hot weather’s lovely… but we’re sleepwalking into crisis

Posted on by Molly Allen

By James Wallace, CEO at River Action UK

As the nation swelters in record-breaking temperatures, England is sleepwalking into a water crisis. 

Across large parts of the country we are experiencing abnormally warm weather. Rainfall has been scarce for months and, when it has come, it has often fallen onto baked, hardened ground unable to absorb it. Rivers are already running low. Wetlands are drying. Aquifers are under pressure before summer has even properly begun.

Last week’s House of Lords report, Surviving drought: reclaim the rain, should have been a national wake-up call. Instead, it barely registered in public debate.

It ought to have landed like a fire alarm.

The report is devastating in its conclusions. England faces a projected daily water shortfall of five billion litres by 2055. Climate change is bringing hotter summers, more erratic rainfall and longer dry spells. Our water infrastructure is leaking, outdated and unprepared. Rivers and ecosystems are already being pushed beyond their limits by chronic over-abstraction.

Yet perhaps the most damning finding is this: Britain is not actually short of rain.

We are short of political imagination, investment and leadership.

The Lords committee makes clear that rainfall has increased overall since 1970. The problem is that rain now falls in intense bursts, rushing off compacted land, overwhelmed drainage systems and denuded catchments before disappearing out to sea. We have systematically destroyed the natural systems that once held water in the landscape.

We drained wetlands. Straightened rivers. Degraded peatlands. Cleared floodplains. Built over and degraded soils. Treated rivers as industrial plumbing systems rather than living ecosystems.

Now we are paying the price.

Healthy rivers are not a luxury. They are our lifeblood; literally the arteries of our land and our nation’s life-support system. When rivers run low, water temperatures rise, oxygen levels collapse and ecosystems begin to suffocate. Fish die. Algal blooms spread fueled by nutrient pollution from sewage and industrial agriculture. Wildlife disappears. Communities lose places of beauty, recreation and resilience. Businesses, schools, hospitals, our whole economy suffers. Crops fail.

And while households are told to use hosepipes less, the deeper structural failures remain untouched.

Water companies continue to leak enormous volumes of treated water every day, wasting an estimated 3 billion litres in the process. Regulators remain fragmented and reactive. New developments are approved in water-stressed regions without credible long-term supply planning, while loos continue to flush drinking water, which is ludicrous. Industrial demand from data centres and energy infrastructure is accelerating while many rivers are already ecologically exhausted. 

The Lords report is particularly important because it finally acknowledges something river campaigners have been saying for years: this is not simply a drought problem. It is a river and water management problem.

England’s rivers are being forced to absorb the consequences of decades of failed policy.

Extraordinary as it may seem, our nation does not have a national strategy for tackling the water scarcity emergency.

The solution cannot simply be more reservoirs and emergency restrictions. We need a fundamental shift in how we manage water and land. That means restoring wetlands, reconnecting floodplains, recharging chalk aquifers, rebuilding healthy soils, reinstating ponds, reintroducing beavers and stopping the relentless over-abstraction and wastage by industry, agriculture and water companies that leaves rivers vulnerable before drought is even officially declared.

We must start treating rainwater as something precious to harvest, store and work with, not something to flush away to the sea as quickly as possible. Our land must be re-wetted and become a sponge again.

The terrifying truth is that what we are seeing now may still be the mild version of the future. The report warns that under higher warming scenarios drought risk could rise dramatically. England could face more frequent and more severe water shortages while also swinging violently between drought and flood.

This is climate breakdown in real time.

The question is no longer whether the crisis is coming. It is already here.

The question is whether the Government, regulators and the water industry are finally prepared to act before our rivers collapse further and water scarcity becomes a defining feature of life in England.

The Lords have sounded the alarm.

Now ministers must decide whether to confront this crisis or preside over its collapse.

We need an urgent budgeted national action plan to save our freshwater.

We need to reclaim the rain.

Local Elections Bring Change – Now Let’s Make Rivers Part of the Conversation

Posted on by Molly Allen
By Erica Popplewell, Head of Engagement at River Action

“Popcorn Week”

The recent local elections brought major political change across the country, with seats changing hands in every direction and hundreds of new councillors elected to represent their communities. Nationally, the impacts are already being felt. Westminster has entered what one commentator described as “popcorn week”, a moment where everyone sits back and watches the seismic political shifts unfold.

But while attention is focused on national politics, we shouldn’t forget the real power and opportunity that exists at a local level. Because when it comes to protecting our rivers, local government matters enormously.

New councillors are stepping into their roles full of energy, ideas, and a desire to make a difference in their communities. Many will already care deeply about nature and public spaces. Others may not yet realise just how central healthy rivers are to local life – from public health and biodiversity to flooding, recreation, farming, and community wellbeing.

Rivers have been a centre point for local communities for thousands of years.

That’s where we come in.

As campaigners, river users, and citizens who care about our waterways, we have an opportunity right now to help put rivers firmly on the local agenda.

Reach out to your newly elected representatives. Send them a welcome message. Invite them for a walk along their local river. Show them both the beauty and the challenges: the pollution, the sewage, the loss of wildlife, but also the joy, value, and sense of place that rivers bring to communities. For many councillors, environmental issues may sit outside their usual knowledge zone. We can help bridge that gap. We can connect local stories to local action.

River Action’s River Rescue Kit also contains practical resources and guidance to help communities campaign effectively for cleaner rivers and engage with local decision-makers. You can explore it here.

River pollution – a shared concern

And while you may or may not agree with the political colour of your new council representatives, one thing is worth remembering: in our experience, there are good people in every party who genuinely care about their communities and want to do the right thing.

At River Action, we’ve sat down with representatives from across the political spectrum, including what felt like one of the unlikeliest meetings I’ve ever attended, with two local councillors, one Green and the other Reform. Yet even there, we found a shared concern about the state of our rivers.

So let’s stay open-minded. Let’s focus on common ground. And let’s work with those willing to stand up for clean, healthy rivers. Political change creates moments of possibility. Let’s make sure rivers are part of this new chapter.

What do the results of the Senedd Elections mean for Welsh rivers? Beth mae canlyniadau Etholiad y Senedd yn ei olygu i afonydd Cymru?

Posted on by Molly Allen

By Ellie Roxburgh, Policy and Advocacy Manager

Plaid Cymru takes the Senedd

For the first time since devolution, a new party holds the reins in the Senedd. Plaid Cymru won the election with 43 seats, followed by Reform with 34.

As expected, the election was very much a two-party race, with Labour, the Greens and the Liberal Democrats doing somewhat worse than polls had predicted. Labour now holds 9 seats, Conservatives have 7, Greens have 2 and Lib Dems have 1.

Plaid falls short of the 49 seats needed for a majority, but with other parties doing worse than expected, they have limited options with whom to form a coalition. Labour and Plaid are unlikely to find common ground on much, given that Plaid just ousted the long-standing party. Reform and the Conservatives together make a substantial opposition, but we are yet to see if they will work together. Prior to the election, the Conservatives leader, Kemi Badenoch, indicated they would not work with any party that is not delivering, and that “the only deal we’re doing is a deal with the Welsh people”, which could be inferred as an alliance with Plaid over Reform.

In his victory speech on Saturday, Rhun ap Lorweth announced that Plaid will be seeking a minority government. He has now been announced as First Minister of Wales, supported by the two Green Party members.

Plaid Cymru yn cipio’r Senedd

Am y tro cyntaf ers datganoli, mae plaid newydd wrth y llyw yn y Senedd. Plaid Cymru enillodd yr etholiad gyda 43 sedd, wedyn Reform UK gyda 34.

Yn ôl y disgwyl, ras dau geffyl oedd yr etholiad hwn, gyda Llafur, y Gwyrddion a’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol yn gwneud fymryn yn waeth nag yr oedd y polau piniwn wedi’i ddarogan. Mae gan Lafur 9 sedd erbyn hyn, y Ceidwadwyr 7, y Gwyrddion 2 a’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol 1.

Mae Plaid ychydig yn brin o’r 49 sedd sydd eu hangen ar gyfer mwyafrif, ond gyda phleidiau eraill yn gwneud yn waeth na’r disgwyl, cyfyngedig yw’r opsiynau o ran ffurfio clymblaid. Go brin y bydd Llafur a Plaid yn canfod llawer o dir cyffredin ar lawer, o gofio bod Plaid newydd sgubo’r blaid hirsefydlog o rym. Mae Reform a’r Ceidwadwyr yn bresenoldeb gwrthbleidiol sylweddol, ond dydyn ni ddim eto’n gwybod a fyddan nhw’n cydweithio. Cyn yr etholiad, roedd arweinydd Ceidwadwyr Prydain, Kemi Badenoch, wedi dweud na fydden nhw’n gweithio gydag unrhyw blaid nad yw’n cyflawni, gan nodi “the only deal we’re doing is a deal with the Welsh people”, a allai awgrymu cynghreirio gyda Plaid Cymru yn hytrach na Reform.

Yn ei araith ddydd Sadwrn, cyhoeddodd Rhun ap Iorwerth y bydd Plaid Cymru yn ceisio ffurfio llywodraeth leiafrifol. Mae bellach wedi’i gyhoeddi’n Brif Weinidog Cymru, gyda chefnogaeth dau aelod y Blaid Werdd.

What will Plaid do for Welsh rivers?

In 2025, six of the ten UK constituencies with the highest combined sewage overflows were in Wales, cumulating to over 415,000 hours of pollution. Last year, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) announced that seven out of nine protected rivers are failing Good Ecological Status due to phosphorus pollution. Salmon are expected to disappear completely from some Welsh rivers by 2030.

However, while Plaid Cymru’s manifesto offered positive steps towards tackling environmental issues, rivers were notably absent from their first 100 days pledge, launched during the Parties’ Conference in February. Yet with wider water reforms from Westminster imminent, Plaid Cymru will need to outline its position on addressing river pollution.

Beth fydd Plaid Cymru yn ei wneud dros afonydd Cymru?

Yn 2025, roedd chwech o’r deg etholaeth yn y DU gyda’r lefelau uchaf o orlif carthffosiaeth gyfun yng Nghymru, gan gronni dros 415,000 awr o lygredd. Y llynedd, cyhoeddodd Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru (CNC) fod saith o bob naw afon warchodedig yn methu â chyrraedd Statws Ecolegol Da, dynodiad a bennwyd gan ddeddfwriaeth yr UE, yn sgil llygredd ffosfforws. Mae’r dirywiad mewn bywyd gwyllt yn arwydd o hyn, gyda disgwyl i’r eog ddiflannu’n llwyr o rai afonydd Cymru erbyn 2030.

Ond er bod maniffesto Plaid Cymru yn cynnig camau cadarnhaol tuag at fynd i’r afael â materion amgylcheddol, roedd afonydd yn amlwg absennol o’u haddewid 100 diwrnod cyntaf, a lansiwyd yng nghynhadledd y Blaid ym mis Chwefror. Ond gyda diwygiadau dŵr ehangach ar y gweill o du San Steffan, bydd angen i Plaid Cymru amlinellu ei safbwynt ar fynd i’r afael â llygredd afonydd.

Sewage hours by constituency ©TopOfThePoops

Closing the regulatory gap on river pollution

Westminster is expected to announce new legislation to clean up rivers tomorrow (Wednesday 13th May) in the King’s Speech through the ‘Water Reform Bill’. The UK Government has indicated its intention to create a new integrated regulator for the water sector, combining Ofwat, the Drinking Water Inspectorate and some functions of the Environment Agency, with implications for the regulation of Welsh water companies. While Plaid has committed to seeking full devolution of powers over water, interim processes for interaction with NRW will need to be established. This could be a timely opportunity for Plaid to take action on NRW, the Welsh environmental regulator, which is widely recognised as not fit for purpose.

NRW as it currently operates is limited in impact, in part due to a lack of resourcing, but also a failure to implement an effective strategy for reducing pollution from both agricultural sources and the water sector.

One area that River Action has identified is the process by which NRW deals with pollution from industrial livestock. As it stands, NRW has chosen to ‘wash its hands’ of pollution by failing to take into account the environmental impact of manure once it leaves the farm boundary. Any reform of NRW must ensure that, as a regulator, it acknowledges and uses its full powers to act, including placing conditions on permits or refusing them where pollution risks cannot be properly controlled.

Cau’r bwlch rheoleiddio ar lygredd afonydd

Mae disgwyl i San Steffan gyhoeddi deddfwriaeth newydd i lanhau afonydd heddiw (dydd Mercher 13 Mai) yn Araith y Brenin drwy’r ‘Bil Diwygio Dŵr’. Mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi nodi ei bwriad i greu rheoleiddiwr integredig newydd ar gyfer y sector dŵr, gan gyfuno Ofwat, yr Arolygiaeth Dŵr Yfed a rhai o swyddogaethau Asiantaeth yr Amgylchedd, gyda goblygiadau i reoleiddio cwmnïau dŵr Cymru. Er bod Plaid wedi ymrwymo i geisio datganoli pwerau dros ddŵr yn llawn, bydd angen sefydlu prosesau interim ar gyfer rhyngweithio â CNC. Gallai hyn fod yn gyfle amserol i Plaid fynd i’r afael â CNC, rheoleiddiwr amgylcheddol Cymru, sy’n cael ei gydnabod yn eang fel un nad yw’n addas i’r diben.

Mae CNC fel y mae ar hyn o bryd yn gyfyngedig o ran effaith, yn rhannol oherwydd diffyg adnoddau, ond hefyd yn sgil methiant i weithredu strategaeth effeithiol ar gyfer lleihau llygredd o ffynonellau amaethyddol a’r sector dŵr.

Un maes a nodwyd gan River Action yw’r broses lle mae CNC yn delio â llygredd da byw diwydiannol. Fel y mae pethau ar hyn o bryd, mae CNC wedi dewis ‘golchi ei ddwylo’ ar lygredd trwy fethu ag ystyried effaith amgylcheddol tail ar ôl iddo adael ffiniau’r fferm. Rhaid i unrhyw broses o ddiwygio CNC sicrhau ei fod, fel rheoleiddiwr, yn cydnabod ac yn defnyddio ei bwerau llawn i weithredu, gan gynnwys gosod amodau ar drwyddedau neu eu gwrthod lle nad oes modd rheoli risgiau llygredd yn iawn.

Poultry factory farms are a lead perpetrator for agricultural pollution in Wales

What about the water companies?

Plaid’s manifesto set out a commitment to set up a new Welsh water regulator, with powers to set price controls, limit bonuses, and direct capital investment to reduce sewage spills, upgrade infrastructure and make environmental improvements.

While better regulation is certainly part of the solution, the ability of water companies to prioritise financial returns over customers and the environment remains a fundamental issue. As a not-for-profit, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water can still pay executives and bondholders high amounts. Although it does have lower bills than many English water companies and fewer pollution incidents, it continues to contribute to unacceptable levels of environmental pollution.

Plaid has also committed to setting out pathways towards the nationalisation of Welsh Water. Public ownership would help address the issue of financial extraction from essential water services. There are also other alternatives, such as municipally ownership, or community-interest models, which could attract the investment needed while prioritising environmental protection and public benefit. Whatever structure is chosen, water companies and the regulator should have a statutory duty to prioritise the environment and public health.

It is now up to this new Senedd Government to decide whether stronger regulation alone will set the Welsh water sector on a path to environmental recovery, or whether more fundamental structural reform of Dwr Cymru Welsh Water is needed to stop the pollution of Welsh rivers and waterways.

Beth am y cwmnïau dŵr?

Roedd maniffesto Plaid yn nodi ymrwymiad i sefydlu rheoleiddiwr dŵr newydd yng Nghymru, gyda phwerau i osod rheolaethau prisiau, cyfyngu ar fonysau, a buddsoddiad cyfalaf uniongyrchol i leihau achosion o ollwng carthffosiaeth, uwchraddio’r seilwaith a gwneud gwelliannau amgylcheddol.

Er bod rheoleiddio gwell yn rhan o’r ateb heb os, mae gallu cwmnïau dŵr i flaenoriaethu enillion ariannol dros gwsmeriaid a’r amgylchedd yn parhau’n broblem sylfaenol. Fel sefydliad nid-er-elw, mae gan Dŵr Cymru filiau is na llawer o gwmnïau dŵr yn Lloegr a llawer llai o achosion llygredd, ond mae’n parhau i gyfrannu at lefelau annerbyniol o lygredd amgylcheddol.

Mae Plaid hefyd wedi ymrwymo i fraenaru’r tir tuag at wladoli Dŵr Cymru. Byddai perchnogaeth gyhoeddus yn helpu i fynd i’r afael â’r mater o echdynnu arian o wasanaethau dŵr hanfodol. Mae yna ddewisiadau amgen eraill hefyd, megis perchnogaeth fwrdeistrefol, neu fodelau buddiannau cymunedol, a allai ddenu’r buddsoddiad sydd ei angen gan flaenoriaethu diogelu’r amgylchedd a budd y cyhoedd. Pa bynnag strwythur gaiff ei ddewis, dylai cwmnïau dŵr a’r rheoleiddiwr fod â dyletswydd statudol i flaenoriaethu’r amgylchedd ac iechyd y cyhoedd.

Mater i’r Llywodraeth newydd hon yn y Senedd yw penderfynu a fydd rheoleiddio cryfach ar ei ben ei hun yn gosod sector dŵr Cymru ar drywydd adferiad amgylcheddol, neu a oes angen diwygio strwythurol mwy sylfaenol ar Dŵr Cymru er mwyn atal llygredd afonydd a dyfrffyrdd Cymru.

Rivers in decline, communities take their fight to the High Court

Posted on by Molly Allen
By Emma Dearnaley, Head of Legal, River Action

It has come to this. 

More than 4,500 people, angry, frustrated and exhausted, have turned to the courts because they believe their rivers have been polluted and those allegedly responsible have not been held to account.

On Monday last week, the High Court heard the first stage of a landmark legal case led by law firm Leigh Day over pollution in the rivers Wye, Lugg and Usk. It is the largest claim ever brought over UK environmental pollution. Behind that headline figure are thousands of individuals who feel they have been left with no other option – and more people joining every week.

These are not abstract environmental concerns. These are rivers people live beside, rely on and identify with. They support wildlife, local economies, farming, tourism and public health. Yet they are now widely seen as being in serious decline.

Amy Fairman, Head of Campaigns at River Action, outside the Royal Courts of Justice

The legal claim

The legal claim is against Avara Foods, its subsidiary, Freemans of Newent, and Welsh Water. The allegation is that pollution from intensive poultry production and sewage discharges has combined to push these rivers beyond what they can sustain – materially impacting the rivers and local communities.

Avara Foods supplies poultry to some of the UK’s leading supermarkets and fast-food chains, producing chicken at an industrial scale in a concentrated area.

Communities along the Wye, Lugg and Usk argue that this industrial model carries a clear environmental cost, and that the corporate group directing the scale and profit of this intensive poultry operation cannot ignore their alleged role in driving the system behind the pollution of these rivers.

An example of an Industry Poultry Unit (IPUs) that are frequently operated by Avara Foods.

Welsh Water – a serial polluter

Welsh Water/Dŵr Cymru, the region’s sewerage operator, is also accused of materially contributing to pollution through the discharge of sewage into these rivers and through the production of sewage sludge applied to land in a similar way to poultry manure.

In 2023, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water was responsible for over 916,000 hours of sewage releases across Wales and England, accounting for around 20% of the UK total, with over 70,000 hours believed to have occurred in the River Wye Catchment.

Communities say they are being forced to live with the consequences of a system that allows waste to enter waterways that should be protected.

Welsh Water discharges – Source: BBC News

A claim brought by the people, for the people

Outside the Royal Courts of Justice, peaceful demonstrators gathered in support, in an action organised by River Action UK. Many had travelled from Wales and Herefordshire. They beat drums, held a blessing of the rivers, and stood alongside the Goddess of the Wye, a 10-foot puppet symbolising the river. It underscored that this case is not only legal, but personal to a community who have suffered real losses.

At the centre of the case is nutrient pollution, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, linked to sewage discharges and poultry manure spread on land and washed into waterways. These nutrients can trigger algal blooms and bacteria that strip oxygen from the water, damaging ecosystems and killing aquatic life. Sewage discharges and poultry manure are also alleged to have directly added further harmful bacteria to these rivers.

For the people bringing this claim, this is not theoretical. They say they have seen water quality decline, wildlife disappear, and rivers they once used become unsafe. Many point to impacts on livelihoods and the value of their homes, others to their health. All describe a sense that the situation has been allowed to worsen without effective intervention.

River Action, legal team and campaigners outside the Royal Courts of Justice

It is time for real accountability

This case is about accountability. It asks whether those who have operated in these catchments at an industrial scale should make right the damage the communities claim has been caused.

Last week’s hearing did not determine the outcome. Instead, it began to set out how the case will proceed, including timelines, whether more people can join, and what information must be disclosed by the Avara group defendants. These decisions matter. The clearer the scale of harm, the harder it becomes to ignore.

Claimants are seeking change. They want allegedly harmful practices addressed and reversed, and are asking whether those allegedly responsible should be required to repair the damage already done. The case comes at a time when the sustainability of intensive farming and the performance of wastewater systems are under increasing scrutiny. Both can cause serious environmental harm if done at a scale the eco-system cannot absorb.

For many involved, the aim is simple. They want clean, healthy rivers again. Rivers they can use, rely on, and pass on in a better state.

The River Wye

Change can no longer wait

What makes this case significant is not just its size, but what it represents. It reflects a growing belief that environmental protections are not keeping pace with the pressures on natural systems, and that legal action has become one of the few remaining routes for a community to demand change and seek redress.

Thousands of people are no longer prepared to accept that the decline of their rivers is inevitable. They believe these rivers have been pushed too far, and they are now asking the court to decide what accountability should look like. This case is not just about the Wye, the Lugg and the Usk. It is about whether environmental harm on this scale can be challenged, and whether communities can force change when other systems fail, with the potential for significant ramifications nationally.

Above all, it is about whether communities act when the damage is clear, and whether we are prepared to restore what has been lost.

When a fisherman must go to court to save a lough

Posted on by Molly Allen
By Enda McGarrity, Director at P.A. Duffy & Co. Solicitors

Lough Neagh is the largest lake in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. It supplies drinking water to much of Northern Ireland and supports a unique ecosystem, a historic fishing community and livelihoods that stretch back generations. Today, this vital natural asset is in crisis.

For several summers, Lough Neagh has been smothered by severe blue-green algal blooms driven by excessive nutrient pollution. The green slicks spreading across the water are not merely unpleasant to look at. They signal ecological failure. Wildlife is disappearing, fish stocks are under pressure, and communities around the lough are increasingly concerned about the consequences of prolonged pollution.

Blue-green algal blooms in Lough Neagh ©SaveLoughNeagh

Against this backdrop, local eel fisherman Declan Conlon has brought a legal challenge against the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). His case asks the courts to examine whether the authorities have fulfilled their legal responsibilities to protect Lough Neagh and those who depend upon it from nutrient pollution.

In his sworn affidavit to the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland, Declan described the long tradition of eel fishing in his family. He told the court, “Our father James Gerard Conlon was an eel fisherman and his father Hughie Conlon before him was an eel fisherman. Going further back than that, beyond memory, my family would all have been fishermen.”

Eel fisherman, Declan Conlon arrives at the Belfast courts ©Mark Marlow/PA Media Assignments

For families like the Conlon’s, fishing on Lough Neagh is not simply a job but a way of life built on generations of knowledge and experience. The eel fishery is internationally recognised, and Lough Neagh eel holds Protected Geographical Indication status.

 

But what Declan and many others are witnessing today is a serious decline in the ecosystem that once supported this way of life.

The algal blooms affecting the lough are the visible symptom of excessive nutrients entering the water from agricultural runoff and wastewater discharges. When nutrients accumulate in a lake, they fuel the explosive growth of algae that can damage ecosystems and threaten wildlife.

Declan has seen these changes directly. He has described a lough where the flies that once fed the eels have disappeared, birdlife has diminished, and at times the blue-green algae gives off a very bad smell, an unpleasant gassy odour. The fishing season, once a reliable source of income, has been severely disrupted.

As Declan told the court:

“My way of life has been destroyed by the blue green algae and I want the DAERA to do whatever is necessary to stop the algae and safeguard and protect Lough Neagh, the fish, the flies and the wildlife for the benefit of future generations.”

Campaigners gather in support of eel fisherman Declan Conlon. ©Mark Marlow/PA Media Assignments.

It should never fall to a fisherman to bring a case of this magnitude. Yet Declan’s action highlights an important truth: environmental protections only matter when they are implemented effectively. When they are not, the environment and the communities dependent upon them suffer.

Northern Ireland has legal frameworks designed to protect rivers, lakes and coastal waters from pollution. River Basin Management Plans and regulatory controls on nutrient discharges are intended to ensure water bodies achieve good ecological status.

But when pollution persists year after year, and ecological decline becomes visible to those who depend on the water, it is right to ask whether those legal duties are being fulfilled.

Declan’s judicial review asks the court to examine that question.

We welcome the interventions of River Action and Friends of Earth NI in this case.

River Action has a strong track record of holding environmental regulators to account through the courts, including legal actions over pollution in the River Wye challenging the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales on nutrient pollution oversight.River Action is applying to intervene to assist the court by clarifying what constitutes a lawful River Basin Management Plan and by addressing the duty of regulators to put in place effective and enforceable measures where pollution is causing clear ecological harm.

Emma Dearlaney , Christian Fuller of River Action and Laura Neal of Friends of the Earth NI gather outside the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast in support of eel fisherman Declan Conlon’s judicial review. ©Mark Marlow/PA Media Assignments.

This case is not about assigning blame to any single sector. Farmers, fishermen, businesses and residents all depend on the health of Lough Neagh. Rather, the case seeks clarity about whether current plans to tackle nutrient pollution are strong enough to restore the lough.

The legal question at the heart of the challenge is straightforward: when a protected water body is clearly failing, are authorities taking the steps required by law to reverse that decline?

Judicial review ensures public authorities act within the law and fulfil duties placed upon them.

This case matters not only for the Conlon family or the fishermen of Lough Neagh. It matters for everyone who depends on clean water and responsible environmental governance.

Lough Neagh is central to Northern Ireland’s landscape, culture and water supply. Allowing it to decline year after year is not inevitable, nor acceptable.

Declan Conlon has shown courage in bringing this case. His aim is not only to defend his livelihood and way of life,  but to ensure the law protects the lough for future generations.

What Are Welsh Parties Doing About River Pollution? Senedd Election 2026 Explained

Posted on by Molly Allen
By Ellie Roxburgh, Policy and Advocacy Manager, and Erica Popplewell, Head of Engagement

There’s a lot of noise ahead of May’s Senedd election – new voting systems, shifting polls, and speculation about who might form the next government. But beneath that sits a more important question: what kind of country does Wales want to be when it comes to its rivers? Because the decisions taken after this election will shape their future for decades.

This election matters precisely because it is so uncertain. No party is likely to win outright, which means priorities will be negotiated in coalition talks. In that kind of environment, issues only stay at the top if they are politically unavoidable—and river health has too often been treated as something that can be traded off. That’s a risk Wales cannot afford to take.

The reality is that Welsh rivers are already under serious strain. Sewage pollution, agricultural runoff and weak enforcement have pushed many waterways beyond ecological limits. Public awareness is growing, and rightly so, this is about health, nature and the places people live. Crucially, there are decisions to be made in Wales. The Senedd has the power to act.

River pollution near the River Wye ©TillyHunter

So what are the parties offering? 

River Action’s Red–Amber–Green analysis against the asks set out in our Cymru Elections Manifesto shows a familiar pattern: some recognition of the problem; however, few parties have set out credible solutions.

On water system reform, most parties acknowledge that water companies should be held accountable but stop short of fundamental change. Labour’s proposed Clean Water Bill and new regulator are steps forward, while others focus on infrastructure and sewage discharges without addressing the system itself. Only Plaid Cymru and the Greens clearly challenge the current model and treat water as a public good.

Senedd Elections 2026 – River Action’s RAG review for river pollution manifestos (Click image for full size)

Agriculture remains the biggest gap

Despite being a major source of river pollution, agricultural pollution is still politically under-addressed. In a bid to make lives easier for farmers by taking the approach of cutting red tape, Reform and the Conservatives will struggle to meet other commitments to clean up rivers.

Labour and the Liberal Democrats favour support and incentives over firm regulation, whereas Plaid Cymru takes the approach of replacing unfit regulations with something that is science-led and risk-appropriate. Only the Greens fully recognise the impact of intensive farming. The result is a clear mismatch between the scale of the problem and the strength of the response.

Intensive poultry units (IPUs) are commonplace in Wales and a major contributor to agricultural pollution.

Progress, but not enough to fix Wales’ rivers

There are some positive shifts. More parties are now framing river pollution as a public health issue, reflecting growing public concern. But stronger language is not the same as stronger policy. Without clear targets, monitoring and enforcement, many commitments risk falling short in practice.

Overall, the picture is one of partial progress but insufficient ambition. In a fragmented Senedd, that matters even more. Without clear commitments, river health risks being diluted in post-election negotiations.

This is why River Action is calling for a step change:

  • A water system that prioritises public and environmental health
  • Real action on agricultural pollution
  • Enforceable plans to restore rivers
  • A long-term approach to water resilience

These are not radical demands – they are the foundations required to get the system to work.

Why I’m taking a water company to court

Posted on by Molly Allen
By Jo Bateman, Open Water Swimmer and Campaigner

I took a water company to court over sewage pollution. Here’s why I’m still campaigning.

My name is Jo Bateman, and I am taking legal action against South West Water because I am sick of sewage pollution ruining the sea where I swim.

A few years ago, I was living in the Midlands, about as far from the coast as you can get. I loved walking, so I decided to spend a week on the South West Coast Path, from Poole to Lyme Regis. That week changed everything. I fell in love with the sea. Not long after, I handed in my notice, sold my house, and moved to Exmouth to live by the coast.

Then one winter’s day, I was persuaded to get into the sea, reluctantly at first. From that moment, I was hooked. I have been sea swimming year-round ever since. When I am in the water, everything going on in my head gets left behind on the shore. All that exists is me, the sea, and the cold. When I get out, I feel completely transformed. The mental health benefits are huge. It reduces stress, lifts my mood, and gives me a sense of calm I cannot find anywhere else.

Jo, in the water

From sea swimming to sewage pollution awareness

At the beginning, I knew nothing about sewage pollution, and ignorance really was bliss. I could enjoy the sea without thinking about what might be in it. But over time, that changed. I started seeing alerts warning of sewage discharges into the water. There were days when the sea was unsafe, days when I could not swim, and days when something that had become essential to my wellbeing was taken away from me.

The more I learned about sewage dumping by water companies, the more shocked and angry I became. It was not just occasional incidents. It was frequent, systemic, and deeply damaging. What had started as a personal passion quickly became a source of frustration and concern. Eventually, I reached a point where I felt I could not just stand by and accept it.

Jo at the March for Clean Water, 2024

Why I took legal action against a water company

In 2024, I decided to take South West Water to court. I filed a claim in the small claims court, seeking compensation for loss of amenity because repeated sewage pollution was preventing me from swimming. The cost to file the claim was £50, and I asked for £379.50 in compensation.

But this was never really about the money. It was about the principle. Why should water companies be allowed to pollute our rivers and seas and face so few consequences?

Water companies often argue that sewage discharges are unavoidable, particularly during heavy rainfall. They say the system cannot cope and that dumping sewage is necessary to prevent worse outcomes. I do not accept that explanation. Rain is not new. The UK has always experienced heavy rainfall. The real issue is decades of underinvestment in infrastructure, combined with a system that has prioritised shareholder payouts over environmental protection.

Jo talking to Jeremy Vine on BBC Radio 2

From one legal claim to a growing movement

What happened next was something I never expected. My case resonated with people far beyond Exmouth. What started as a small claim quickly grew into something much larger.

The case is now supported by the law firm Leigh Day and has progressed to the High Court. Alongside this, a group legal action has been launched on behalf of the people of Exmouth, with more than 1,300 claimants taking action against South West Water.

Personally, my life has changed beyond recognition. I have become part of a wider community of people who care deeply about clean water and are willing to speak out and take action. I have gone from being a relatively quiet person to speaking in Parliament, appearing in national media, and addressing large crowds at protests and events. There is even a documentary telling my story (find out more).

‘Jo in the Water’ documentary premiere

Why I am still taking on water companies

Taking on a water company can feel like a David and Goliath battle. These are large, powerful organisations with significant resources. I am just one individual. But I believe this fight is necessary.

Clean water should not be a privilege. It should be a basic right. We should be able to swim in the sea without worrying about sewage pollution. We should be able to trust that water companies are protecting the environment, not harming it.

We live in a world where extraordinary technological achievements are possible. It should not be beyond us to build and maintain a sewage system that does not pollute our rivers and seas. Real change requires accountability. It requires proper enforcement of environmental laws, and it requires water companies to stop putting profit before pollution.

Jo campaigning outside 10 Downing Street

A message to others fighting sewage pollution

If there is one thing I have learned through this experience, it is that individual action matters. You do not have to accept the status quo, and you do not have to stay silent.

There are thousands of people who feel the same way, and together we are far more powerful than we are alone. Collective action can drive change, even in the face of powerful institutions.

This is about all of us. It is about the future of our rivers, our seas, and our environment. And it is a fight we cannot afford to lose.

Because nature needs us.

If you would like to find out more about Jo’s incredible story, you can book a ticket to a screening of her documentary here.

All Ffermio Achub y Cleddau? Gwersi o Dir Pori Sir Benfro

Posted on by Molly Allen
Gan Chloe Peck ac Ellie Roxburgh (River Action)

Wrth i ni yrru i lawr i Sir Benfro yn gynnar ym mis Chwefror, roedd yna deimlad o obaith yn yr awyr, gyda’r cennin Pedr melyn llachar cyntaf i’w gweld yn y cloddiau a’r haul yn adlewyrchu oddi ar fôr gwyllt a garw. Roedd mynd am dro ar draeth caregog yng Nghymru yn sicr yn apelio, ond roedden ni yno ar gyfer mwy na dim ond y golygfeydd. Diben y daith oedd gweld a yw’r nodau uchelgeisiol o gydbwyso maethynnau a ffermio adfywiol yn dal dŵr mewn sefyllfa ymarferol ac fel rhan o weithgareddau bob dydd fferm laeth.

Pont Cleddau, Sir Benfro

Afon Dan Bwysau

Mae’r Cleddau wrth galon tirwedd Sir Benfro, gyda’r Cleddau Ddu a’r Cleddau Wen yn uno cyn llifo i aber dwfn. Mae’n rhan hanfodol o’r ardal, ond yn wynebu pwysau sylweddol ar hyn o bryd. Mae llygredd amaethyddol yn parhau i fod yn un o’r achosion mwyaf o bwysau ar ein hafonydd ledled y DU, a dydy’r Cleddau ddim yn eithriad. Gall maethynnau o wrtaith a thail lifo i’r dyfrffyrdd hyn, gan gyfrannu at ddifrod ecolegol a dirywiad yn ansawdd y dŵr.

Roedden ni yn yr ardal yn benodol i siarad am lygredd maethynnau yn y dalgylch a sut mae ffermwyr eisoes yn gwneud newidiadau ymarferol i arferion rheoli ffermydd, gyda chefnogaeth gan y cadwyni cyflenwi, i wneud gwahaniaeth. Roedden ni hefyd yno i edrych ar yr hyn sydd angen ei wneud. Ar lawr gwlad, mae hyn yn cael ei amlygu gan y newid yn y ffordd mae’r tir a buchesi yn cael eu rheoli. Yn bwysicaf oll o bosib, fe wnaethon ni weld sut mae ffermio “ystyriol o afonydd” yn canolbwyntio ar reoli pori. Drwy symud i ffwrdd o ddulliau dwys traddodiadol tuag at systemau fel pori er lles cadwraeth, mae’n haws i ffermwyr amddiffyn y pridd a’r dŵr sy’n rhedeg drwyddo.

Trefnwyd ein taith gan Ric Cooper, asgwrn cefn ac arweinydd Prosiect y Cleddau. Mae Ric yn un o’r ymgyrchwyr hynny sy’n gallu ymdrin â data cymhleth ar faethynnau un funud, cyn troi ei law at gydlynu gwirfoddolwyr gwyddor dinasyddion, ac yna trafod agweddau ymarferol gyda ffermwyr y funud nesaf. Oherwydd ei fod yn llais lleol mor uchel ei barch, roedd yn gallu’n cyfeirio ni at amrywiaeth eang o safbwyntiau ledled y dalgylch.

O Borthi Dan Do i Dir Pori Agored

Drwy gysylltiadau Ric, trefnwyd i ni gyfarfod â’r ffermwyr lleol Mike Smith ac Andrew Rees fel y gallen ni fynd i lygad y ffynnon a gweld sut maen nhw’n rhoi mesurau ymarferol ar waith i leihau eu heffaith ar yr amgylchedd. Mae’r ddau yn rhan o First Milk, cwmni llaeth cydweithredol ym mherchnogaeth ffermwyr Prydain sy’n canolbwyntio ar systemau adfywiol seiliedig ar bori. Mae’n rhaid i aelodau First Milk ddarparu mynediad at dir pori am o leiaf 120 diwrnod y flwyddyn, gan eirioli dros bori fel dewis amgen hanfodol i borthi dwys dan do.

Mae manteision y dull hwn wedi’u gwreiddio yn y cylch maethynnau lleol. Mewn systemau dan do, mae gwartheg yn aml yn cael eu porthi â bwyd sy’n uchel mewn ffosffadau a nitradau, sy’n aml wedi’i gynhyrchu dramor a’i fewnforio. Mae hyn yn cyflwyno maethynnau “newydd” i’r amgylchedd lleol. Ar y llaw arall, pan fydd gwartheg yn pori ar borfa, maen nhw’n bwyta maethynnau sydd eisoes yn bresennol yn y pridd lleol. Pan fydd y gwartheg yn cynhyrchu slyri, mae’n golygu bod y maethynnau sydd ynddo yn lleol i’r ardal benodol honno. Drwy wasgaru’r slyri hwn ar yr un tir amaethyddol, mae’n cynnal y cydbwysedd maethynnau yn y tir yn hytrach na’i orlethu. Mae’r system dolen gaeedig hon yn hanfodol i amddiffyn ein hafonydd rhag y maethynnau mewn dŵr ffo sy’n arwain at ewtroffigedd – lle mae gormodedd o faethynnau yn achosi gordyfiant algâu, a hynny’n mygu ocsigen ac yn niweidio ecoleg yr afon.

Ond mae mwy i’r gwaith o bontio i ffermio sy’n ystyriol o afonydd na phori yn unig. Trafodwyd amrywiaeth o ddulliau eraill, megis gwell rheolaeth ar faethynnau ac ar wasgaru tail a gwrtaith, sydd yn eu tro’n lleihau’r risg o ddŵr ffo yn llifo i’r Cleddau yn sylweddol. Yn Moor Farm, mae Andrew wedi troi’r model traddodiadol ar ei ben drwy ostwng y defnydd o wrtaith a chemegion yn sylweddol. Mae’n credu bod hynny’n fwy na rhywbeth sy’n “ddymunol” o safbwynt amgylcheddol yn unig; gall cam o’r fath gynnal neu hyd yn oed wella’r elw ac adfer iechyd y tir ar yr un pryd.

Cydweithio ar Draws y Gadwyn Gyflenwi

Fe wnaeth Ric ein cyflwyno hefyd i Christopher ac Emma yn Puffin Produce, cwmni cyflenwi cynnyrch ffres mwyaf Cymru a chydberchnogion Hufenfa Sir Benfro. Mae’r rôl ddeuol hon yn eu rhoi mewn sefyllfa unigryw i ddylanwadu ar gaeau a llaethdai. Maen nhw’n defnyddio’r Rhwydweithiau Mentrau Tirwedd (LENs) i bontio’r bwlch rhwng cyflenwi masnachol ac iechyd yr amgylchedd.

Drwy’r rhwydwaith hwn, maen nhw’n cyd-ariannu atebion ar sail natur sy’n cael eu cynllunio gan y ffermwyr eu hunain. Mae’n ddull pwrpasol: yn hytrach na mandad o’r brig i lawr, mae’n grymuso pob busnes fferm i gynnig yr arferion adfywio penodol a fydd yn diogelu daearyddiaeth unigryw yr ardal leol honno orau.

Y Darlun Mawr: Dyfodol i’r Cleddau

Wrth i ni adael Sir Benfro, roedd yn amlwg bod amddiffyn ein hafonydd yn gofyn am weithredu cydlynol ar draws y system fwyd a ffermio gyfan, o’r ffermwyr a’u tir pori i’r cwmnïau cydweithredol, y manwerthwyr, y rheoleiddwyr a’r llunwyr polisi. Yn galonogol, yn ein sgyrsiau gydag arweinwyr fel Andrew Rees, Mike Smith a’r tîm yn First Milk, gwelsom fod llawer o ffermwyr eisoes yn gweithio i fod yn rhan o’r ateb.

Fodd bynnag, bydd datblygu’r ymdrechion ar raddfa ehangach yn gofyn am fwy na dim ond uchelgais amgylcheddol. Gwelsom fod pontio i ffermio adfywiol yn aml yn cael ei ystyried fel risg sy’n cymryd sawl blwyddyn i’w gwireddu. Er mwyn llwyddo, mae’n rhaid i ni ail-fframio’r ddadl, a dangos y gall ffermio sy’n ystyriol o afonydd fod yn economaidd hyfyw.

Mae ymroddiad amlwg Puffin Produce, First Milk a rhwydwaith gwyddor dinasyddion Ric Cooper yn profi bod newid go iawn yn bosib pan fydd ymddiriedaeth leol a chefnogaeth y gadwyn gyflenwi yn cyd-fynd law yn llaw. Bydd cefnogi a datblygu’r ymdrechion cyfunol hyn ar raddfa ehangach yn hanfodol os ydyn ni am adfer a diogelu iechyd ein hafonydd ar gyfer y cenedlaethau i ddod.

Cyfieithwyd gan Testun Cyf

Can Farming Save the Cleddau? Lessons from the Pembrokeshire Pasture

Posted on by Molly Allen
By Chloe Peck, Senior Engagement Coordinator and Ellie Roxburgh, Policy and Advocacy Manager (River Action)

As we drove down to Pembrokeshire in early February, there was a feeling of hopefulness in the air, with the first bright yellow daffodils popping up along the verges and the sun reflecting off a wild, rough sea. A walk on a pebbly Welsh beach was certainly inviting, but we weren’t just there for the scenery. We were there to see if the ambitious goals of nutrient rebalancing and regenerative farming actually hold water when they meet the daily reality of a working dairy farm.

Cleddau Bridge, Pembrokeshire

A River Under Pressure

The Cleddau is at the heart of Pembrokeshire’s landscape, with the Eastern and Western Cleddau rivers flowing together into a deep-water estuary. It is a vital part of the area, but is currently facing significant pressure. Agricultural pollution remains one of the most significant pressures on rivers across the UK, and the Cleddau is no exception. Nutrient runoff from fertilisers and manure can enter these waterways, contributing to ecological damage and declining water quality.

We went specifically to speak about nutrient pollution in the catchment and how farmers are already making practical changes in farm management, alongside support from supply chains, to make a difference, as well as what more needs to be done. On the ground, this looks like a shift in how the land and herds are managed. Perhaps most importantly, we saw how “river-friendly” farming focuses on grazing management. By moving away from traditional intensive methods toward systems like conservation grazing, farmers can better protect the soil and the water that runs through it. 

Our trip was organised by Ric Cooper, the local linchpin and lead of The Cleddau Project. Ric is the kind of campaigner who is able to navigate complex nutrient data one minute, coordinate citizen science volunteers the next, and then talk practicalities with farmers. Because he is such a trusted local voice, he was able to introduce us to a wide variety of perspectives across the catchment.

From Indoor Housing to Open Pasture

Through Ric’s introductions, we met with local farmers Mike Smith and Andrew Rees to learn firsthand how they are implementing practical measures to reduce their environmental impact. Both are part of the First Milk cooperative, a British farmer-owned dairy co-op focused on regenerative, grazing-based systems. First Milk requires its members to provide at least 120 days of pasture access per year, advocating for grazing as a vital alternative to intensive indoor housing.

The benefits of this approach are rooted in the local nutrient cycle. In indoor systems, cows are often fed imported feed, rich in phosphates and nitrates that were grown elsewhere, sometimes even in another country. This introduces “new” nutrients into the local environment. In contrast, when cows graze on pasture, they are consuming nutrients already present in the local soil. This means that when the cows produce slurry, the nutrients within it are local to that specific area. By spreading this slurry back onto the same farmland, the nutrients remain balanced with the land rather than overwhelming it. This closed-loop system is essential for protecting our rivers from the nutrient runoff that leads to eutrophication – where excess nutrients cause algal blooms that choke the river of oxygen – damaging the ecology of the river.

This transition toward “river-friendly” farming isn’t limited to grazing alone. We discussed a variety of other approaches, such as improved nutrient management and more precise manure and fertiliser control, which can significantly reduce the risk of runoff into the Cleddau. At Moor Farm, Andrew has turned the traditional high-input model on its head by significantly reducing fertilisers and chemicals. He believes that these changes aren’t just an environmental “nice-to-have” lower inputs can actually maintain or even improve profit margins while restoring the health of the land.

Collaboration Across the Supply Chain

Ric also introduced us to Christopher and Emma at Puffin Produce, the largest supplier of Welsh fresh produce and partial owners of the Pembrokeshire Creamery. This dual role puts them in a unique position to influence both the fields and the dairies. They are leveraging the Landscape Enterprise Networks (LENs) to bridge the gap between commercial supply and environmental health.

Through this network, they co-fund nature-based solutions that are designed by the farmers themselves. It’s a bespoke approach: rather than a top-down mandate, it empowers each farm business to propose the specific regenerative practices that will best protect that local area’s unique geography.

The Big Picture: A Future for the Cleddau

As we left Pembrokeshire, it was clear that protecting rivers requires coordinated action across the entire food and farming system, from the farmers in the pasture to the cooperatives, retailers, regulators, and policymakers. Encouragingly, our conversations with leaders like Andrew Rees, Mike Smith, and the team at First Milk showed that many farmers are already working to be part of the solution.

However, scaling these efforts will require more than just environmental ambition. We learned that the transition to regenerative farming is often seen as a risk that takes several years to realise. To succeed, we must shift the frame, to show that “river-friendly” farming can be economically viable.

The commitment we saw from Puffin Produce, First Milk, and Ric Cooper’s citizen science network proves that when local trust and supply chain support align, real change is possible. Supporting and scaling these collective efforts will be essential to restoring and safeguarding the health of our rivers for future generations.