Riverbank Club News 2024
Cam Valley Forum event: Sewage Sleuthing the River Cam: 7:00-8:30pm Wednesday 23 October 2024 at St Mark’s Community Centre, Barton Road, Cambridge CB3 9JZ
At the end of first season of Bathing Water Designation for the River Cam at Sheep's Green, the bathing water quality at Sheep’s Green is expected to be officially rated as “Poor”.
The meeting will discuss:
- the results of investigations into the possible causes
- what happens next
- how we can help us clean up the River Cam
An ITV news piece about pollution in UK rivers, including the Cam, featuring the Cam Valley Forum's Anne Miller and our own Nicky B:
https://www.itv.com/watch/news/catch-up-on-itv-news-anglia-east-from-wednesday-21st-august/jydxlwm
The piece also mentions an upcoming demonstration about the state of UK water management in London on 26 October this year (2024).
For those willing to contribute to a research study into the effects of wild swimming, here are some links to a national study:
Link to the overarching project web-page: https://www.ecehh.org/research/antimicrobial-resistance-in-rivers/
To take part in the National Health Snapshot (online questionnaire): https://bit.ly/freshwater-swim-survey
Link to the National Health Snapshot news article: https://www.ecehh.org/news/health-freshwater-bathing/
Links and more information:
- Project Webpage
- Sign Up for Poo-Sticks Study
- Poo-Sticks News Article
- National Health Snapshot Questionnaire
- National Health Snapshot News Article
The Cambridge University Swimming and Water Polo Club (CUSWPC) will be holding their party on Thursday 20 June between 12 and 4pm and the Site will be *closed* to Riverbank Club members between those hours. Thanks for your co-operation.
Direct link to water quality assessment (for Sheep's Green, but very relevant for Newnham Riverbank Club):
https://environment.data.gov.uk/bwq/profiles/profile.html?_search=sheep&site=ukh1201-09801
Bathing designation for the Cam at Sheep's Green has been approved. This means that water quality will be regularly monitored, boosting the chances of engineering works to improve the quality and reduce raw sewage discharges into the river.
The Cam Valley Forum have been very proactive in helping to secure this designation, as have many Riverbank Club members, and the committee is very grateful for this joint effort.
https://camvalleyforum.uk/what-happens-after-bathing-water-designation/
https://camvalleyforum.uk/celebrating-bathing-water-designation/
Please note that the Newsletter and call for resubscriptions will go out in early April 2024 by email. If you were a paid-up member in 2023 and haven't received a Newsletter email by 15 April 2024, please: a) check your "spam" folder in case it has gone there b) contact us at membership.nrclub.org and we will send you a copy.
Outside events:
For members of the Cam Valley Forum and those interested in the future of the Cam:
Cam Valley Forum annual Lecture
8.00pm Monday 18 March 2024
Refreshments at 7.30pm
Can the Cam Flourish Again?
David Attenborough Building (Seminar Room), New Museums Site,
Downing Street (https://www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/about-us/find-us)
Prior to the lecture you are warmly invited to attend the AGM of the Cam Valley Forum at 7.00pm
Patrick Barkham | The Wild Life of Roger Deakin
Thu 21 Mar 2024 | 8:00pm - 9:00pm
Patrick Barkham joins us to present his definitive biography of beloved nature writer Roger Deakin. Author of the immortal Waterlog and Wildwood, Deakin always captured natural life with rare attention, intimacy, precision and poetry. Patrick Barkham draws from notebooks, diaries, letters, recordings, published work and early drafts in order to conjure Deakin’s voice back to glorious life. Not to be missed.
Tickets: https://www.cambridgeliteraryfestival.com/events/patrick-barkham-the-wild-life-of-roger-deakin/