Small Ripples to Great Waves (Book version)

Small Ripples to Great Waves ANJA JACKSON

Small Ripples to Great Waves ANJA JACKSON

The River Severn is the UK’s longest river, stretching 220 miles from its source in Plynlimon, Wales to eventually becoming the estuary that forms part of the border between Wales and England.

Containing the second largest tidal range on the planet and an abundance of silt and debris, the River Severn has formed wetlands, mudflats, floodplains and lagoons which provide habitats for a vast array of different species of wildlife. These areas are often only home temporarily for these animals - migratory birds tend to leave in spring and return for each winter, while many species of fish and eels use the river at specific points in their life cycle for breeding or feeding. Others remain in or near to the Severn all year round.

With global warming, pollution and an ever-increasing world population, the environment is under more pressure than ever and people are increasingly having to intervene in order to protect wildlife from the impacts of humankind. The introduction of non-native species of animals and plants as well as the changing uses of land also have huge and often unpredictable impacts on the flora and fauna of an area.

Over 6 million people live by the River Severn, and many passionate individuals are dedicating their working lives and spare time to the cause of conservation, aiming to preserve the beauty and diversity of this important and historic river.

“I start my day by checking all the animals and of course the otters, walk through, check everybody is OK, check there’s no illness, no injury, no problems.” ~John Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Centre

“People think that because Gloucester is inland, that the problem of plastic and litter in the oceans is not our responsibility. But the river runs straight through here. Every time it floods it picks up all the rubbish on the banks and carries it straight into the sea.� ~ Tanya The Lonely Litter Picker

“The volunteers are working to coppice and crown lift the trees throughout the nature reserves woodland to allow more light to penetrate under the canopy. This will allow a more diverse ground flora to become established which in turn will provide better shelter and food sources for birds and insects to exploit.� ~ Richard Countryside Ranger

“This isn’t just about fish – we want this project to reconnect millions of people with this beautiful river” ~ Sir James Bevan Environment Agency

“Breeding Curlews from the Severn Vale leave their hay meadow breeding grounds in late June or July, and spend the winter at coastal sites such as the Severn estuary. They are very rarely observed inland between August and the beginning of spring.� ~ Mike Gloucestershire Naturalists Society

“I had never really given any thought to the difficulties that wild animals encounter when their paths cross with ours...

It made me think about the huge number of wild animals which must be suffering out there, with no-one to help them despite most of their injuries being caused by humans, albeit unintentionally most of the time.� ~ Caroline Founder of Vale Wildlife Hospital

“Sadly swans on the river still suffer from entanglement with fishing line. Although there is no fishing in the sanctuary in Worcester, line washes down the river, swans can pick it up elsewhere, and historic line (sometimes with lead weights still attached) can wash out of the bank in floods. You can see that this line looks quite old - eventually it would have blocked completely, and she would have starved to death.� ~ Marilyn The Swan Food Project

Collectively, mankind is becoming more aware of the true scale of the impact we are having on our planet.

We have built towns and cities for ourselves but destroyed natural habitats in the process. We use fossil fuels for our cars, chemicals to grow our food and “disposable� plastics that will remain in landfill or in the oceans for hundreds of years. Scientists have known for years how unsustainable modern life is, and now the general public is also slowly beginning to understand the need for change.

The people photographed for his book come from a wide range of backgrounds and all have different reasons and motivations for doing what they do. Some are passionate about a certain species of animal or plant and are dedicated to helping them increase their numbers. They may also feel strongly that everyone has a duty of care to the environment and they want to spend time educating and recruiting others to help.

Some of these individuals are paid for their work and have chosen to make conservation their full-time job, whilst others are giving up their free time voluntarily to help causes they are passionate about. The locals who enjoy seeing wildlife on their doorstep and take small steps to keep the area safe for these animals are no less important than those paid for doing highly scientific research or organising large-scale projects.

It can seem daunting to think about how to go about protecting the planet and the wildlife that lives here, but there are many things that can be done relatively easily. Donations can be made to support environmental charities without even leaving the house. Things such as picking up litter, not disturbing signposted nesting areas or reporting distressed animals to a rescue centre requires little-to-no specialist knowledge or equipment and can easily be done whilst out walking. Even taking ten minutes to survey and record wildlife sightings is easier than one might think and can contribute to a greater understanding of the environment around us.

Simple actions can have more impact than we realise, and if we can inspire others to think about what changes they can make in their lives to help protect the area in which they live, then something that starts off as a small act of environmental kindness can quickly ripple and become a wave of change for the better.

With thanks to: The Environment Agency Friends of Alney Island Gloucestershire Naturalists Society The Great British Spring Clean with McDonalds St Oswalds The Lonely Litterpicker Severn Rivers Trust Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Centre The Swan Food Project Vale Wildlife Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre All photographs and illustrations Š Anja Jackson