MEMBERS of Sparkling Wye WI crafters have created a collage of wishes for clean rivers and other waterways in the England and Wales. 

The Women’s Institute group, known as Wiskers made up of WI sewers and knitters, raised awareness of the plight the River Wye at Ross-on-Wye Market and were joined by citizen scientist, Dr Ian Hague and his wife and Dany Sayers from the Save the Wye group. 

These volunteers were able to offer up-to-date knowledge on the River Wye, river testing and pollutants. 

Visitors to the event, held prior to River Action week, which runs from September 16 to 22. were told about the current state of the river and how they might help.

Children, who visited the stall completed a treasure hunt by finding items on the collage of how the River Wye should look, did look and will look if the River Wye is saved, and coloured in pictures of life on the Wye and solved a rivers puzzle. 

Everyone left the stall with something – either a brightly coloured poster, information or a leaflet ‘Manifesto for the Wye’ from the Save the Wye campaign.

Sparkling Wye WI was formed out of the embers of the original Ross-on-Wye WI in 2010 and now boasts 34 regular members.

● Herefordshire Wildlife Trust are hosting an event ‘Wye Adapt to Climate Change?’ where people can find how to make the countryside more resilient to climate change on a landscape scale using nature-based solutions to improve river health and protect against future extreme weather events.

This is being held at Hopelands Village Hall in Weobley on September 16 between 7pm and 9pm and at Upton Bishop Millenium Hall on October 24 between 2pm and 4pm.