Photo Credit: Rick Goldsmith/Catcher Media
Save the Wye celebrated their most successful event ever on Saturday with over 1200 people gathered on Castle Green in Hereford for the ‘Restore the River’ event.
The focus was on celebrating the river and on children getting involved in river arts but it all carried a serious message – the river is dying in front of our eyes. We must stop the pollution now.
Richard Tyler of the Save the Wye campaign said “We were thrilled to share the afternoon with so many people, young and old.
“Everyone is so aware of the problems the river is faced with and the urgency with which we need to find a resolution. There was real emotion shown with several people admitting they had shed a tear for the state of the river.
“The river has been the backdrop to our lives forever – it is like an old friend being poisoned in front of us. We need Government, regulators, farmers and supermarkets to make changes now. The time for talking is over.”
The afternoon sunshine saw a full programme of theatre, music and dance as well as more serious talks on the state of the river and how to get involved.
Star musical performances came from local people like the Ella Mary’s and Sax in the Park as well as Hereford College of Arts (HCA) Performing Arts Music students.
Bartonsham History Group gave the crowd an amazing History Slam followed by St Thomas Cantilupe Primary School’s River Stories video, produced entirely by the students, as featured on BBC TV’s Countryfile earlier this summer.
All afternoon, children’s workshops produced amazing puppets, masks and models of dragonflies, fish and other river wildlife whilst a wide range of community groups engaged with visitors on their work. Talks on River History (Marsha O’Mahony), Wild Swimming (Ray Farr), Wildlife Rescue (Sasha Norris) and River Restoration (Nic Howes) gave more serious messages to the crowd.
Later HCA Drama Students gave a superb rendition of Mid Summer’s Night’s Dream and Marches Climate Action performed their play condemning chicken producer Avara for much of the river’s pollution. This followed their lauded performance at supermarket Tesco’s AGM two weeks ago.
Then to finish the afternoon the Goddess Wye together with her human manifestation, Lady Wye, led a long procession over the river at Victoria Bridge, blessing it and praying for its recovery.
In the evening, a dance was organised in St Peter’s Church jointly with the Ukrainian community, raising funds for Help for Ukraine and Save the Wye.
Save the Wye can be reached through the website www.savethewye.org
