The WI has been campaigning for over 100 years and Brockenhurst WI are proud to continue this tradition!

So when some of our members were disappointed that they couldn’t get to London for the “The March for Clean Water’ on 3rd November to campaign, we took matters into our own hands and worked with Greener Brockenhurst to put on a Brockenhurst March in solidarity with the ‘March for Clean Water’ in London.

This was attended by local community groups including Brockenhurst EcoChurch, Tiddlers Toddler Group, Friends of Brockenhurst, EcoSway, The Greet Party, New Forest Friends of the Earth, Wildlife Trust, Litter Pickers of the New Forest along with many passionate local residents, all with the common aim of wanting clean water.

It was a vibrant and enthusiastic response from a village that showed how strongly people feel about this issue.

Cllr Adam Parker was also in attendance and said “Clean rivers, seas and water cuts through the political divide – it’s something vital for life, which everyone wants. We are in our current mess through chronic under-investment and infrastructure neglect, and the woeful idea that we can sell the family silver for pennies, defer to market forces at all times, and things will magically ‘just work’.

Although I have made the case at District Council, following recent appalling and environmentally disgraceful sewage leaks across the district, and in dialogue with our MP, I hope our many voices will now be seen and heard nationally and lead to much needed greater action.”

Rachel Smith, President of Friends of Brockenhurst said “Brockenhurst is where several streams meet before joining the Lymington River, so it is very important to monitor the quality of the water arriving at the aptly named Waters Green”.

Brockenhurst WI took part in the Great UK WaterBlitz in September, testing local waterways in seven locations in and around Brockenhurst on two occasions. The testing was for levels of nitrates and phosphates. In good weather, these levels were low, but, after rain downstream from water treatment plant the level of nitrates in the Lymington river was higher.

Samples collected were also sent for additional test and the results from this sadly showed that UK wide, 100% of samples had further contamination and 80% of samples showing some level of risk to aquatic life.

Refreshments were served afterwards, giving the community the opportunity to chat and share ideas.

For more ideas about what we can all do to help keep out rivers and waterways clean, click here.

Brockenhurst WI thank Greener Brockenhurst for this great collaboration. We also thank everyone who attended the March and all those who helped to make this such a great community event.