Good to see a spirited display of community action and environmental concern with Grow Batheaston and Batheaston Parish Council joining forces to clean a stretch of St Catherine’s Brook as part of the Wild Waters Festival.
The initiative, supported by volunteers from the community and local company Future Positive, aimed to restore the health and beauty of the stream that winds through the heart of the village.
The clean-up team, including Alison Harper and Bill Martin from Grow Batheaston, and Craig Brooks, Nikki Barkwill and Rich Whitehouse from Future Positive, tackled a 150-metre section of the brook from the Primary School to the Rhymes Pavilion.
They removed an astonishing array of debris: lorry and car tyres, children’s bikes and scooters, garden furniture, carpets, and even a bench from the playing field.
“The amount of rubbish we found was both surprising and disheartening,” said Bill Martin of Grow Batheaston. “But the effort was hugely worthwhile. We’ve reclaimed a beautiful, tranquil space that could become a nature trail or picnic spot for the community.”
The team also encountered local wildlife, including damselflies and signal crayfish, and noted the presence of invasive Himalayan Balsam, which they plan to remove in future efforts.
Looking ahead, Grow Batheaston plans to participate in the upcoming Avon Water Blitz, a citizen science initiative led by the Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART). Volunteers will test water quality across the Bybrook and St Catherine’s Brook, measuring levels of nitrates, phosphates, and other indicators to establish a baseline for future monitoring.
Martin encourages residents to get involved as River Guardians, observing and protecting their local waterways year-round. “We have a magical ecosystem right on our doorstep,” he said. “If we care for it, it will thrive.”
For more information or to get involved,
Batheaston Parish Council is responsible for a number of facilities and community assets in the village, including the land to the east of this stretch of St Catherine Brook, encompassing the playground and football pitch. We are always keen to hear from residents who want to make Batheaston a better place to live, in all sorts of ways.
Contact the Clerk, Richard Maccabee, clerk@batheaston-pc.gov.uk, or call 01225-923820.
Grow Batheaston is a local charity working to support the community of Batheaston and strengthen connections with Nature. (https://www.growbatheaston.co.uk)
Future Positive is an employee-owned creative agency helping B2B companies around the world promote complex products and services by developing brands, campaigns and presentations (https://futurepositive.agency)
