The River Wye was welcomed into the council offices at Plough Lane earlier today (Friday 9 February), as Herefordshire Council restated its commitment to delivering improvements to help protect and restore the health of rivers in the county.

The ecological health of our rivers and countryside is an essential part of maintaining and growing a sustainable, prosperous rural economy that enhances the quality of life and wellbeing of Herefordshire’s residents.

The vessel of water was first brought into the council offices during a successful conference in November, which brought together environmental campaigners and the agricultural sector to learn about actions that are happening to protect the Wye.  Herefordshire Council worked with Friends of the Lower Wye and the Rural Hub to create a platform for constructive discussion and identify long and short term solutions. 

The vessel will be taken from Hereford to the next conference in the series, which will be hosted in Monmouthshire on Friday 23 February.
 

 

Councillor Elissa Swinglehurst, Cabinet lead member for environment, Herefordshire Council, said:

“The ecological health of our rivers and countryside is an essential part of the quality of life and wellbeing of Herefordshire’s residents; a healthy ecology also supports a healthy economy.

“Bringing the River Wye into the building where we make our decisions is a reminder of the importance of the health of our rivers. The protection and restoration of our rivers should be central to our thinking, discussions and decision making.”