Project to improve water quality of River Leven praised

A project that was introduced to boost the water quality of the River Leven has been praised.

The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) initiative saw 55 farmers receive advice on how to be responsible for their land to reduce the amount of waste leaking into the waterway, the Darlington and Stockton Times reports.

Grants worth £15,000 in total were also awarded to secure fencing and hard standings to help limit soil erosion and prevent earth from getting into the river.

Speaking with the newspaper, farmer Andrew Petch said: "The work was something we would have done, but in stages over a period of time. The scheme meant we could do it all at once."

It was introduced by the FWAG, together with the Tees Rivers Trust and the Environment Agency, which was also recently involved in improving water monitoring results of a fishing pond in Queen Elizabeth II Park in Lincolnshire after it was polluted with waste engine oil last month.

Posted by Lauren Steadman