19 November 2024
Latest research, published in The Guardian today, highlights the extent of chicken farming in the Wye and Severn catchments.
Would you believe, there are now an astonishing 51 million chickens in these areas? The so-called Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty of the Wye valley is ruined by the manure produced by such intensive farming.
Pollution from the manure has affected not just the river systems but the water table as well. This is why the UK’s most famous wild carp water – spring-fed Llyngwyn near Rhayader in mid-Wales – is suffering from mass blooms of blue-green algae that threaten the survival of these precious fish.
The Wild Carp Trust has been working with Rhayader & Elan Valley Angling Association for the past 18 months to rescue as many carp as possible. To date we have rehomed 1,485 carp from a population estimated at over 4,000 fish. If you can support us, either by volunteering to help catch fish via rod and line, or by donating to help cover our costs, or joining us as a member, or offering pools (or land to construct pools) then please do so.
We will continue our rescue mission next year, and monitor the water quality at Llyngwyn.
Let’s save this super-historic strain of carp.
