Local Business Champions Work To Create Cleaner Rivers And Protect Wildlife

Groundwork CLM has received a funding boost from a local business towards its work in improving water quality and ensuring that rivers are places where people and wildlife can thrive.

Sapphire Utility Solutions, which is based in the North West has donated £24,000 to enable Groundwork to make an even bigger difference across the region in the future.

It was recently reported that only 14% of UK rivers had a “good” ecological status. Healthy rivers are vital for biodiversity and for human health and wellbeing. Rivers provide habitats for a range of wildlife, protect against flooding and provide beautiful places for recreation and reflection.

Super Sams

Samuel Gibson and Sam Phillips (pictured below), work for Groundwork on a project called Love My River. It is part of the work delivered by the River Douglas Catchment Partnership, which is hosted by Groundwork.  The partnership’s mission is that ‘All water bodies of the River Douglas catchment will be clean and healthy, supporting measurably diverse wildlife, valued by people and enabling sustainable economic growth.’ Working alongside a range local organisations and volunteers, the ‘Super Sams’ as they are known locally, carry out regular water sampling to monitor the health of local rivers. They also organise action days: clearing rubbish, repairing river banks and removing non-native species that can cause environmental damage, degrade habitats and increase the risk of flooding. Their aim is to involve as many people and organisations as possible in looking after our rivers.

They recently carried out a series of presentations in local schools which have captured the imagination of young people. The aim of these sessions is to help children to understand and appreciate the importance of rivers, not just for fresh drinking water and for people’s livelihoods, but also for nature. The children also learn about some of wildlife that rely on rivers for their habitat and how rivers can benefit people’s health and wellbeing. This additional funding from Sapphire Utility Solutions will allow Groundwork to do more practical work and awareness raising in more areas in the future.

This funding from Sapphire Utility Solutions will not only enable us to continue to manage and improve water quality, but also protect species and habitats and improve biodiversity

Jon Hutchinson, Groundwork’s Programme Director for Communities says: “The support of local businesses is vital to the work we do. This funding from Sapphire Utility Solutions will not only enable us to continue to manage and improve water quality, but also protect species and habitats and improve biodiversity.”

We are delighted to be partnering with Groundwork in the North West and look forward to supporting some of their initiatives such as the ‘Love My River’ project.

Colin Kelly, Sapphire Utility Solution’s Managing Director & Partner said ‘We are delighted to be partnering with Groundwork in the North West and look forward to supporting some of their initiatives such as the ‘Love My River’ project. As a North West based business, we are passionate and committed to creating a positive lasting legacy in our local communities and together with Groundwork, will help improve prospects in our communities whilst enhancing the local environment across the region for future generations’.

If you’d like to support Groundwork, or get involved in improving local rivers to help people and wildlife, you can call Samuel on 01942 821 444 or check out @Love My River on Facebook or Twitter.

Stuart Bell from Sapphire Utility Solutions with Groundwork’s Joe Darby and Samuel Gibson on site at Elnup Wood in Wigan.