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Big Dee Day clean-up
Published: 03/10/2014
Hundreds of bags of litter were collected by volunteers who also planted trees
and bulbs throughout the River Dee catchment area during this year’s Big Dee
Clean Up.
Around 200 volunteers including residents, and representatives from
organisations and businesses, took part in the two day event which took place
on 19 and 20 September.
Mike Taylor, Senior Coastal Ranger, Flintshire’s Countryside Services said:
“The Sustrans volunteer rangers collected 37 bags between Queensferry and
Saltney.
“Flintshire’s Countryside Services rangers collected over 40 bags and staff
from Natural Resources Wales litter picked on the beach at Talacre alongside
RSPB and Haven staff and volunteers.
“Schoolchildren from Connah’s Quay High School were praised by the coastal
rangers along with staff and students from Coleg Cambria, who worked in and
around Connah’s Quay.”
The launch of Big Dee Day took place at Chester Football Club as the event
involves partner agencies across Chester, North Wales and Wirral including
Cheshire West and Chester, Flintshire County Council, Denbighshire County
Council, Wrexham County Borough Council and Gwynedd Council and is supported by
the Environment Agency, and Natural Resources Wales.
Councillor Bernie Attridge, Cabinet Member for Environment said: “This year’s
Big Dee Day has been a resounding success, and I’d like to thank all our
partners for their hard work in making it happen.
“The River Dee runs through lots of different areas of North Wales and it’s
fantastic to see such a successful cross-border partnership.”
Bev Dyer, Environment Officer from Natural Resources Wales added: “The River
Dee and the Dee Estuary is a popular area for locals and visitors, and an
important hub for angling and other water sports, as well as a home to rare
wildlife.
“The important work of all the volunteers and organisations involved in the Big
Dee Day will go a long way in helping to make sure the area can continue to be
enjoyed by people as well as benefiting wildlife and the local economy for
years to come.”
Jo Holden from the Environment Agency added: “The Big Dee Day of action was a
fantastic event. It highlighted all the great work the Environment Agency,
Natural Resources Wales, Flintshire County Council, Cheshire West and Chester
Council, Cheshire Wildlife Trust and Keep Wales Tidy are doing to improve the
local environment. It shows how much we can achieve by working together and I
hope it will prompt people to carry on volunteering and taking an interest in
nature.
“Work to improve the environment in this area is continuing and we are excited
to be involved with the Tidal Dee Catchment Partnership, which has a ‘Living
Seas Officer’ starting work next week. This means we will have a dedicated
person to start projects on marine litter and contaminated land issues around
the Dee estuary and encourage further partnership working with local people and
volunteer groups.”
Editor’s note
Natural Resources Wales brings together the work of the Countryside Council for
Wales, Environment Agency Wales and Forestry Commission Wales. It is
responsible for making sure the natural resources of Wales are sustainably
maintained, enhanced and used, now and in the future.
Photo caption L-R: Community leaders and civic heads including Mayor of Chester
and Admiral of the Dee, Cllr Bob Rudd and Chair of Flintshire County Council,
Cllr Glenys Diskin at the launch of Big Dee Day.