LOOKING at the clear water of the White River when strolling along the Pentewan Trail in the summer sunshine you might be mistaken for thinking that all is well. Unfortunately, this is far from the reality.

In the other seasons, particularly after heavy rain, raw sewage, china clay, mud, animal slurry and metal salts flow into the river from various discharge points.

In 2023, on average, nearly seven hours of raw sewage were discharged into the river daily. In addition, the river banks are gradually being choked and shaded out by invasive plants, such as wild rhododendron, Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam.

If that isn’t enough, the river has few natural features and no connection to its former floodplain. Due to historic straightening works, it now runs between stone-lined walls which are being eroded in places as the river tries to re-establish its natural flow pattern.

On a social level, historic sites along the river, for example, those connected with china clay and tin mining, along with waterwheels and mills, lie overgrown and forgotten.

Access to the river and within the valleys alongside it is also poor, particularly for those with limited mobility. There is no real connection between the Clay Trails and the Pentewan Trail and links with other footpaths or bridleways are disjointed.

All in all, the river and its surroundings are in a sorry state.

However, there is a small, active and growing group who know the river can be transformed and revitalised, both for nature and for people, and are determined to see it happen, under the title of the “White River Project”.

The project team are currently defining a vision for the whole river catchment, from its source at Hensbarrow, to the sea at Pentewan, including the Gover and Polgooth Streams.

They are asking for your help. They want to know what issues local people feel are important and what ideas they may have to improve things.

If you would like to share your thoughts and ideas with the team, get in touch with them by completing the online survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/XVMHVKH

But hurry, it closes soon.

Article from Climate Action St Austell