The sad state of our river

RIVERS are the lifeblood of our planet, and essential systems for all life on Earth.

In Frampton, our River Frome is an important wildlife corridor and home to many threatened species, including bats, otters and kingfishers.

We’ve been working with staff and students at the University of the West of England to carry out a survey of the river in Frampton.

We’ve been testing the water quality and surveying habitats and species.

We’ve also done outreach work in local schools, to help educate the next generation about the importance of the river and what we can do to protect it.

Our rivers nationally are in a very poor condition - just 14% of English rivers meet good ecological status and all are chemically contaminated.

Our findings show that, unfortunately, the Frome is no exception.

The river is heavily polluted from a variety of sources, including agricultural run-off, road run-off, sewage overflows and plastic waste.

Our testing has found high levels of nutrients and shockingly high levels of bacteria in the water, which are a threat to aquatic life and human health.

In order to change this, we need to improve farming practices and end the scandal of sewage pollution in our rivers. Improving riverside habitats and rewilding our rivers is also key to improving water quality and building resilience to climate change.

Landowners have a particularly important role to play, and can help by improving buffer zones alongside the river.

Ideally, rivers should have a mixture of plants, shrubs and trees extending at least 10 metres from the bank.

Riverside trees provide important wildlife habitat and help reduce pollution, regulate water temperature, sequester carbon and stabilise river banks.

Reconnecting the river to the floodplain and creating wetlands would also reduce pollution, sequester carbon, and help prevent flooding and drought.

The recent sighting of a beaver near the mouth of the River Frome in Bristol suggests one way this could be done.

Beavers are excellent ecosystem engineers - creating wetlands and improving habitats for other species.

Frampton Cotterell Nature are taking action to improve the riverside habitat at the Glebeland, and hold monthly nature volunteer sessions on the fourth Saturday of each month, from 10am until noon.

If you’d like to join us and help restore our local river, contact framptoncotterellnature@gmail. com. Thanks to all our student volunteers, to UWE Bristol and the Quartet Foundation, who have funded this project.

David Hanks

n WHAT'S ON

May 1 n WINTERBOURNE DOWN CARNIVAL, 10am-6pm. Procession from Bradley Avenue to Bethesda Methodist Church to crown May Day King & Queen starts at 10.15am. Stalls and entertainment including set from Glastonbury Festival DJ Simon Lloyd.

May 1 n MAY DAY FAYRE, Iron Acton Village Green, 10.30am-3.30pm. Family-oriented, free event, with activities and entertainment including maypole dancing from North Road and Iron Acton primary schools, art exhibition, marching band, traction engines, street food, martial arts, funfair and farmers' market.

May 1 n CREAM TEAS at Westerleigh Village Hall from 11am-3pm. Eyes down for bingo at 2pm, raffle at 3pm. All proceeds to St Peter’s Church, Wapley. For information contact Bonny on 07544 731250.

May 16 n CHIPPING SODBURY MUSIC SOCIETY presents Piatti String Quartet, Chipping Sodbury Town Hall, 7.30pm. Adults £15, school-age children free. Tickets available on door, from Hobbs House Bakery, Chipping Sodbury or ticketsource. co.uk/csmusicsociety. For more information call 01454 315741 or visit csmusicsociety.co.uk.

May 16-20 n WINTERBOURNE Musical Theatre presents Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, WADCA Community Centre, Tuesday to Friday, 7.30pm, Saturday matinee, 2.30pm. Tickets available online from Ticketsource or by calling 01454 317408. More information at www. winterbournemusical.co.uk.

May 18 n ARTS APPRECIATION GROUP meets at Bradley Stoke Community School from 7pm with illustrated talk by Richard Box: A Stitch in Time - Embroidery through the Ages. For more details phone Sally on 01454 774401.

May 27 n FLORAL FRIENDs of Frampton Spring Fayre and Plant Sale, Brockeridge Centre, 10am-noon. Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee with a cake, browse the stalls and buy some plants for your garden.

REGULAR EVENTS n MONDAY: WINTERBOURNE FLOWER CLUB now meets at WADCA in Watleys End Road, Winterbourne. Meetings are on the second Monday of the month between 2pm and 4pm. Call 01454 776753 for details. n MONDAY: FRAMPTON n MONDAY: WINTERBOURNE n TUESDAY: WINTERBOURNE n TUESDAY: SUNRIDGE GOLF n TUESDAY - CRAFTING: Come and join our group of crafters on the first Tuesday of every month in the Red Brick Annexe, Manor Hall, Coalpit Heath, BS36 2TG from 2-4pm. Bring your own project. n WEDNESDAY: GENTLE SHIBASHI n WEDNESDAY DOWNEND n THURSDAY: WINTERBOURNE WINDS, a friendly amateur wind band who play a wide range of music including pop, musicals and classical, rehearse at Frenchay Village Hall from 7.40-9.30pm. New members are welcome. For more information email winterbournewinds@yahoo.com. n FRIDAY: FROME VALLEY ART GROUP meets at the Greenfield Centre, Winterbourne each Friday 2-4pm or 7-9pm. Thriving club with demonstrations and workshops from visiting professional artists. More details online at winterbourneart.uk or email fromevalleyartwinterbourne@gmail. com.

SINGALONG meets on the first Monday in the month at Crossbow House, School Road, Frampton Cotterell, 2-3.30pm. Live music from The Jays & The Rosettes. £5, refreshments included. Carers free. All profits to UNICEF supporting children affected by Ukraine war. More details 07515 351 813.

DOWN LADIES PROBUS CLUB meets at 2pm on the third Monday of each month at All Saints Church Hall, Winterbourne Down. Talk followed by refreshments, £3.50 visitor, £25 annual membership. Call 01454 773647 for more details.

DOWN METHODIST CHURCHDrop in for free cup of tea and chat or play board games, every Tuesday from 2-4pm.

CROQUET CLUB meets on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in Coalpit Heath and has players at all levels. Learn how to play, club equipment is available to use. Contact croquet@ wilko.eclipse.co.uk or call 07977 201440.

£4 per session: Kay 07792189276.

TAI CHI AND RELAXATION, accessible to all, 10.30-11.30am and 11.45am-12.45pm, Winterbourne Medieval Barn, Church Lane, Winterbourne. Contact Jenny on 07855 560257or jksmith@blueyonder. co.uk for more information.

FLOWER ARRANGING CLUB meets at 7.30pm on 1st & 3rd Wednesday each month from September to June at Lincombe Barn, Overndale Road. Call Genise on 0777 245 1217 for information.

THURSDAY: COELIAC UK LOCAL CAFÉ MEET-UP, every third Thursday of the month, 10-11.30am, at Iron Acton Garden Centre cafe. Join us to share experiences of living gluten free. For more details email volunteering@coeliac.org.uk.