Rights for the River

The discovery of brook lampreys, a protected species, may help in the campaign to improve the River Stour and prevent overdevelopment. The finding was made during International Rivers Day in March, which started with a river blessing by Shipston’s resident druid Cii (aka Martin Russell).

With water levels still high, participants had to keep to the banks as invertebrate samples were collected, but children and grown-ups enjoyed identifying and naming the creatures using special viewing trays. The Misspent Ukes provided the music, despite cold fingers, and the History Society showed how the Stour had powered many watermills in the past.

‘The plight of our rivers is very much in the spotlight at last,’ says Verity Richardson from Stour Vale Action for the Environment (SAFE), the group that organised the day. ‘One direct consequence
of the day is that we are now trying to obtain Chartered River status for the Stour, bringing it legal rights.’