Help us save the wildlife on our river

'Appalling' litter on the South bank of the River Ribble is harming the wildlife living there, say conservation groups as they organise a litter pick to solve the problem.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Mar 2016, 09:00 BST
Updated 10th Mar 2016, 09:46 BST
Ribble Rivers Trust and the Preston Bird Watching and Natural History Society organise a litter pick on the South Ribble Bank. This is what was collected how the bank looks in 2016 before the pick.Ribble Rivers Trust and the Preston Bird Watching and Natural History Society organise a litter pick on the South Ribble Bank. This is what was collected how the bank looks in 2016 before the pick.
Ribble Rivers Trust and the Preston Bird Watching and Natural History Society organise a litter pick on the South Ribble Bank. This is what was collected how the bank looks in 2016 before the pick.

National figures show 100,000 marine animals are killed by entanglement in nets, lines and plastic bags every year and the Ribble Rivers Trust and the Preston Bird Watching and Natural History Society are keen Preston doesn’t follow suit.

The litter pick is taking place on Saturday, April 9, and the groups are looking for as many volunteers as possible, with a clean up last year seeing more than 100 bags of rubbish collected.

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South Ribble Council has agreed to collect the waste and recycle it where possible.

Ribble Rivers Trust and the Preston Bird Watching and Natural History Society organise a litter pick on the South Ribble Bank. This is what was collected in 2015's pick.Ribble Rivers Trust and the Preston Bird Watching and Natural History Society organise a litter pick on the South Ribble Bank. This is what was collected in 2015's pick.
Ribble Rivers Trust and the Preston Bird Watching and Natural History Society organise a litter pick on the South Ribble Bank. This is what was collected in 2015's pick.

Geoff Wilkinson and Richard Hargreaves, members of the Preston Society which is organising the litter pick, said: “The area at Howick Cross is particularly bad following the winter floods and high spring tides. We have organised litter picks in this area for a number of years now and it is particularly important for us as the initial idea came from one of our members, Martin Lucas, who sadly passed away two years ago. Martin identified the need for regular cleaning up operations, and our continued activity is in his memory.”

South Ribble MP Seema Kennedy, who took part in the litter pick last year added her support to the initiative. She said: “Last year I was able to witness the great difference the clean up made to the riverbank and I would encourage as many volunteers as possible to provide their help on the day.”

The pick runs from 9am until 12pm meeting at the bottom of Howick Cross Lane, Penwortham.

Related topics:River RibblePreston SocietyPreston