A swimmer has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the dramatic decline of the River Wye.

Angela Jones, known as the ‘Wild Woman of the Wye’ has call for urgent action to save the iconic river, which stands on the brink of ecological collapse.

The wild swimmer entered the waters of the Wye at Hereford on June 25, towing a large model eggbox, in recognition of the role of intensive poultry production in the destruction of the river.

According to research from Natural Resources Wales, over 60 per cent of the River Wye catchment is failing to meet pollution targets. One of the contributing factors to the rapidly declining ecological health of the River Wye is widely believed to be linked to the rapid growth of the intensive poultry industry in the catchment.

Is it estimated that more than 20 million chickens are now being reared in the Wye catchment. The thousands of tons of chicken manure spread across land within the catchment each year, as well as the run-off from free range egg farms directly into watercourses, are believed to be the cause of the massively excessive phosphate levels recorded across the River Wye system. Excessive phosphate levels drive the formation of ‘algal blooms’ which suffocate river life. Cover of the infamous mats of Ranunculus white flowers, or water crowfoot, is estimated to have fallen by over 90 per cent.

Angela Jones said: “The time for talking is over. We are on a cliff edge. Urgent action is now required and if it is not implemented this year then we can wave goodbye to the Wye, the nation’s favourite river.”

Campaigners including the charity River Action have highlighted the role of individual agribusinesses in this environmental disaster, notably two of the UK’s leading egg and chicken meat producers Noble Foods and Avara Foods which have a substantial presence in the River Wye catchment. River Action has expressed concern at Noble Foods’ failure to provide commitments on action to address the crisis on the Wye.

River Action supports the work of local citizen scientist groups, as well as campaigners such as Angela Jones, who have stepped in to monitor the state of rivers.

Angela Jones, who also swims with a model toilet to highlight the sewage pollution of our rivers, has launched this new campaign to raise visibility and awareness of the link between the egg industry and river pollution and call for urgent action.

The campaign will continue throughout the summer, with a number of upcoming swims planned. Angela’s next swim will take place on July 1 at 6:30pm at Monmouth Rowing Club.

Charles Watson, founder and chair of River Action said: “River Action is delighted to support Angela in raising the profile of the urgent and devastating threat facing the Wye. There is no one better placed to raise the alarm than Angela who has spent the past thirty years above and below the waters of this magnificent river.

“It is time that large corporations operating in the river catchment listen to the local community and urgently address the negative impacts they are having on that community and the environment around them.”