The WI Week of River Action 2024 – Day 1- Part 2!

Today, was WI Day. It was also the WI’s 109th Birthday.

Over the years, WI members have campaigned on an incredible range of issues, increasing public awareness and bringing about real change. In 1954, The WI passed a resolution to “Keep Britain Tidy”. This campaign became its own organisation and is still as relevant today as it was back in 1954.

Sadly, litter is still a problem and litter does end up in our seas and rivers. Launched in 2023, the WI Clean Rivers campaign seeks to tackle river pollution.

The European Environmental Agency reports that “Land-based sources (of litter) accounts for 80% of marine litter and approximately 85% of it is plastic. This is a big problem because of plastic’s impact on marine life and human health via the food chain. The persistent nature of plastic means that it can last up to 500 years in some cases.”

So for Day 1 of WI Week of River Action, Brockenhurst WI decided to do a litter pick at what is know as ‘Brock Beach’ an area of the Lymington River, off Balmer Lawn Road, Brockenhurst. This is a popular area for locals, New Forest Animals and visitors.

Eight members from Brockenhurst WI, a dog and Rosie from Litter Pickers of the New Forest joined together and litter picked in and around the Balmer Lawn area. Thankfully, many locals and Litter Pickers of the New Forest do regularly litter pick at this area, and initially, it looked quite clean.