Wetland Project Tackling River Pollution Receives Official Visit

We recently welcomed the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed MP, the Chairman of the Environment Agency Alan Lovell, and DEFRA Director of Water Sebastian Catovsky to our Chamber Mead wetlands. During their visit, the South East Rivers Trust team highlighted the multiple benefits of working with nature to tackle river pollution and other environmental issues.

Promoting Nature-Based Solutions

During the visit, we explained how nature-based solutions significantly reduce river pollution. Moreover, we found the new Government’s interest in these innovative approaches encouraging. To help our rivers recover more widely, we emphasised the need for the Government’s support to rapidly scale up these projects.

Dr. Bella Davies, CEO South East Rivers Trust, said:“We are delighted to host the Secretary of State at the Chamber Mead wetland today. The wetland tackles sewage and urban road runoff pollution before it enters the Hogsmill River, which is a rare chalk stream, one of around 220 in the world, supporting a unique set of species dependent on the chalk-purified water. We are glad that the new Government sees the wide benefits of nature-based solutions and we urge them to take action to break down barriers to these kinds of projects and support organisations such as ours to deliver more at scale in the future.”

Governments Commitment to Water Quality

We’re pleased to hear that the new Government acknowledge the importance of improving water quality, which was highlighted in the King’s Speech, with plans for water industry reform. However, we emphasised the need for ambitious action on agricultural pollution, road run-off, and over-abstraction. We delivered this message directly to Steve Reed MP during his visit.

Exploring Chamber Mead Wetland

Steve Reed MP toured the Chamber Mead wetland with Rivers Trust CEO Mark Lloyd and SERT CEO Dr. Bella Davies. Alan Lovell, Chair of the Environment Agency, and Sebastian Catovsky, DEFRA Director of Floods and Water, also joined the visit. Chamber Mead demonstrates how nature-based solutions can vastly improve our waterways and combat river pollution. We have redirected the water from the Green Lanes Stream through a sediment trap and two wetlands instead of letting it run straight into the Hogsmill River. At the other end, we connected the wetland to the Hogsmill River downstream of the stepping stones. As they develop, the wetlands will provide diverse habitats and amenities to the Hogsmill Local Nature Reserve and improve water quality for a 200-metre section of this rare chalk stream.

Impact on the Hogsmill River

The Chamber Mead wetlands help conserve the Hogsmill River, a rare chalk stream. This project cleans 250 million litres of water through natural systems, effectively combating pollution. The wetlands are part of a broader partnership between the Rivers Trust and The Coca-Cola Foundation.

Looking Ahead

The visit underscored the importance of these projects and the need for continued support. With the backing of the Government and our partners, we can achieve significant progress in restoring and protecting our rivers.

For more information on our projects and how you can get involved, visit the South East Rivers Trust website. Join us in making a difference for rivers across the South East.