A team of anti-pollution campaigners have walked the full length of the River Brent to raise money for water quality testing.
The 26-mile walk was organised by Clean Up the River Brent (CURB) and the Brent River Park charity alongside the Dollis Brookers and Friends of the Welsh Harp.
Dubbed “The Brentathon”, the 12 hour journey took the team from the river’s source in Barnet all the way to the Thames at Brentford. Along the route the walkers covered Dollis valley, Welsh Harp, Brent River Park and Grand Union Canal.
Brent River Park trustee and CURB founder Ben Morris said: “The Brent is beautiful but badly polluted, and we need your help to do something about it. We already have our pioneering homemade Brent Monitoring Network, providing live data on the state of the river. We already know there are several sewage outlets that dispose of waste directly into the water. But we want to know exactly what’s in the water and where it’s coming from. We are concerned that animals and humans who come into contact with the river are in danger.”
He added: “We want to break the silence around the true nature of what’s in the water, and the threat it poses to our environment. Most people would agree with the principle that the polluter should pay. The money raised from the Brentathon gives us the means to gather information and build our evidence base. We are asking people to help us stand up for this vital waterway and hold those who are damaging it to account.”
Dianne Murphy of the Dollis Brookers added: “It is not acceptable to treat our waterways as part of our sewage system or as a convenient place to dispose of our waste. They are a vital backbone of the green and blue corridors that connect us all to nature. They should be valued and protected for the mental and physical health benefits they provide to people of all ages and the homes and nourishment they provide to our wildlife.”
To date, over £2,300 has been raised and the organisers say they welcome further donations which can be made on its JustGiving page.
