onionbagblog

A head count of seventy volunteers on Sunday as the bi-annual Wivenhoe Society riverbank clean up waded out of the station car park, shortly before the bells of St Mary’s greeted the morning.

For all this political twaddle talk of the #bigsociety, it was great to see #wivsociety in action around here locally. No political points to be scored, simply a cross section of the community proving the worth of the many hands make light work mantra.

Volunteers from both the Wivenhoe Scouts and the Hub youth club helped out the more mature members of WivSoc lifting logs, picking up crisp packets and removing old World War Two stretchers (seriously) from around the banks of the Colne.

Cripes.

The riverside walk from Wivenhoe down to Ferry Marsh and the Hythe is of course all rather lovely, but time and tide and cans of Tennent’s wait for no WivSoc member.

The twice-yearly roam along the riverbank with bin bags now plays an essential role in helping to keep the unique beauty of this area. For such a raw and (relatively) unspoiled natural landscape, even the smallest amount of tidal junk can take away the charm.

On Sunday and some of the artefacts taken out of the riverbank were really quite remarkable. As well as the WW2 stretcher, tyres, trousers and a well-crafted wooden collection box were all found.

I concentrated my efforts around Ferry Marsh, which was relatively clear following the recent environmental work by the Un-environmental Agency. With the rosehips, sloes and blackberry bushes long since slaughtered, whisper is quietly – the roots are starting to spring upwards once again.

Polystyrene proved to be a major pain. Fragments of fragments could be found everywhere. Used ear buds also proved to be popular. Or should that be unpopular?

Ugh.

With an incoming tide drawing a close to the collection, it was reassuring to remember that most of the crap in the Colne wasn’t the consequence of Wivenhoe litter droppers. Living in a tidal town means that we are washed up with all the refuse from Essex. I personally blame that other lot on the other side of the Colne.

With some very welcome corporate support from our friends at EWD skips in Brightlingsea, as well as a couple of incredibly hard-working WTC ground staff, the Colne was cleared just before morning service came to a close at St Mary’s.

Not wanting to preach, but remember: there is no such thing as the #bigsociety. #wivsociety is working on the frontline, Comrades.