Ffrindiau’r Afon Gwy

Friends of the River Wye

Science, art and community to protect the river.

Featured
Meeting with Wye MPs
Meeting with Wye MPs

On the 4th October we convened a meeting with MPs in the Wye catchment. It was fantastic to see four MPs, from four different parties, willing to collaborate for the cause of clean water and restoring our rivers. 

Read More →
Environmental groups raise alarm over controversial proposed AD plant in Wye catchment 
Environmental groups raise alarm over controversial proposed AD plant in Wye catchment 

We are deeply concerned that the Environment Agency has granted an environmental permit to a controversial proposed Anaerobic Digester in the Wye catchment that doesn't yet have planning permission. We call on the EA to explain why it has issued a permit and questioning its process and whether it has conducted the appropriate assessments necessary to safeguard the environment. 

Read More →
Meeting with Environment Agency Chair Alan Lovell
Meeting with Environment Agency Chair Alan Lovell

Last week we had the opportunity to meet with the Chair of the Environment Agency, Alan Lovell, and some of his senior staff to discuss how citizen scientists could better collaborate with the agency to prevent pollution.

Read More →

About Friends of the River Wye

The Wye is at a low ebb, suffering from severe pollution and the effects of climate change. Friends of the River Wye is a grassroots community group that has formed to protect and champion our local river.

Learn more about FOUW >>

Volunteer to become a Citizen Scientist >>

Join our mailing list or donate >>

Citizen Scientists as River Guardians

We made this short film to explain our citizen science project and celebrate some of our volunteers monitoring the Llynfi.

Find out more about becoming a citizen scientist >>

River water quality in near-time

Wye Viz, developed by FORW trustee Michael Carpenter, provides weekly updates fed in from hundreds of citizen scientists across the Wye Citizen Science Alliance (FORW, CPRE and WSA)

Browse the full dataset on Wye Viz here >>

View the mobile-friendly version here >>

Latest phosphate readings

See the sites monitored by FORW that are currently reading the highest 4-week average phosphate levels, as measured on our Hanna meters. The Freshwater Habitats Trust advises that phosphate levels higher than 0.1 represent high pollution levels, and higher than 0.5 represents very high pollution.

Take action to protect the river.

Citizen science

We need data. High nutrient levels in the Wye and its tributaries are feeding algal blooms which are damaging the river. We desperately need far more regular testing at many more locations - which is where people power can make a real difference.

_MG_3848jpg_2560.jpg

Art and outreach

LiftTheRiver is an arts initiative which hopes to explore the role of the river in the imagination. It is an invitation to help the Wye through creativity, exploration and collective action.

_MG_2948.jpg

Designated bathing water

We want to improve the health of the river, both for the safety of the people who may swim in it and to protect the environment in and around the water.

“How oft, in spirit, have I turned to thee,
O sylvan Wye! thou wanderer thro' the woods,
How often has my spirit turned to thee!”

William Wordsworth.

Become a friend of the river.