Exhibition shines light on River Wye pollution

A group of artists are raising awareness of the "catastrophic problem" of pollution in the River Wye with an exhibition.

Campaigners from the Save the Wye group have created a display of 16 glass panels which trace the journey of the river and the build-up of pollution as it flows towards the sea.

It is on display at the Forest of Dean District Council offices in Coleford, Gloucestershire until 30 June.

"The new exhibition looks incredible and really helps to spread the message about the deterioration of our waterways in the Forest of Dean," said the council's river water quality champion Andrew McDermid.

"After the council unanimously supported the Rivers and Oceans Motion last year, it's essential to keep this conversation alive and push for real change," he added.

McDermid said tackling pollution would require cooperation from the community, local groups and government.

"This is a problem of such scale it cannot be tackled alone," he said.

"We want everyone to be able to enjoy our rivers long into the future, and working together we can make that a reality."

The council's Water Improvement Group said it was working to identify pollution sources, monitor water quality and involve local people in caring for the district's waterways.

The exhibition comes after a £1m fund to investigate the sources of pollution in the River Wye was announced by the Welsh and UK governments.

Artist and Save the Wye member Mollie Meager said exhibiting at the council offices was a great opportunity to highlight the campaign.

"We hope that all residents and visitors will take the opportunity to explore the artwork further and to put their voice behind the campaign," she said.

"The river should be something that is enjoyed by all.

"Together we can make the change."

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