Celebrating Mersey Rivers Week

River Rangers and operational staff from United Utilities joined with a team from Mersey Rivers Trust and volunteers to support Mersey Rivers Week (30 June – 6 July 2024), a celebration of the environment, wildlife and recreational benefits of the rivers that form the River Mersey.

The annual initiative is organised by the Mersey Rivers Trust with public events across Merseyside, Cheshire, and Greater Manchester. Activities this year included Himalayan Balsam bashing in Sankey Valley Park in St Helens and the John O’ Jerusalem Woods in Stockport. Litter picks were organised at Spike Island, Widnes and on the River Irk, Hendham Vale, Stockport. The week ended with a Bioblitz on the River Bollin at The Carrs, Wilmslow.

Mark Sewell, Wastewater Catchment Manager, Wastewater Services said: “Mersey Rivers Week organised by the Mersey Rivers Trust is a great opportunity for communities to come together to find out more about the waterways on their doorstep. As a member of the Upper and Lower Mersey Catchment Partnerships, we’re happy to be involved and to demonstrate how we can all do our bit to clean up the environment around our rivers, streams, and coastlines.”

“Projects like this form part of our commitment to create better rivers. We are planning on investing £166 million to reduce spills from 20 storm overflows in Merseyside, as part of a proposed £13.7 billon investment to make a stronger, greener, healthier North West. This will have huge environmental benefits to the River Mersey, local wildlife and the communities we serve.”