Dour community
River Dour clean-up, Kent
Every year, a small team from our Dour Community join other enthusiastic volunteers to help clean up the River Dour in Dover and make sure that its banks and bed are clean and litter free.
Wearing waders and using litter pickers, the volunteers clean several sections of the river. They fish out branches and other debris that accumulate in rivers, and also unsightly rubbish left by fly tippers. The clean-ups, which are organised by White Cliffs Countryside Partnership (WCCP) and led by WCCP Dour Partnership Officer, take around 30 bags of rubbish from the river and its banks on the day.
WCCP staff said: “It’s essential to keep the river clean and the volunteers do a great job. If we didn’t have regular clean-ups then the water wouldn’t remain as clear as it is and an important chalk river habitat would be lost.
“We can now see brown trout breeding well in the Dour, showing that we have a healthy river that can support a wide range of wildlife. It’s thanks to the volunteers’ great efforts that the habitat’s restoration work can continue year on year.”
An Affinity Water volunteer said that he was surprised at the range of rubbish dumped in the river. He said: “It was everything from bicycles to bedsprings. If the river wasn’t regularly cleaned up then it would soon become unsightly and it’s a pity that people don’t take a moment to think before dumping their rubbish in it.
“When you work every day with water you realise the importance of our rivers and springs. The Dour is the only river in the area and we need to make sure it remains in good shape.”
Another volunteer added: “The Dour clean-up is part of our community engagement /volunteering activity that’s historically happened in the Southeast and which we’re looking to increase across the business. It’s ideal for us to take part. Not only is it local, but it gives us a good opportunity to meet our customers – many people stop and talk to the volunteers during the day to find out what’s happening and there’s great support and appreciation for the cleaning.”
Affinity Water has worked with WCCP in the Southeast for more than ten years, and historically the tasks have been either on Affinity Water land (managing biodiversity) or in key areas which benefit the community. The area that WCCP cover mirrors our supply area in the Southeast, and they have a programme of volunteer activities throughout the year which anyone is welcome to attend.
Find out more about WCCP