[Members] AGM; SOS about the River from CamValley Forum

[Wendy Blythe]

Dear All,



Your support and help on Wednesday made FeCRA’s Kim Wilkie, 'The Happy
City' AGM Event a big success. Thank you. I quoted Cambridge Mayor Jeremy
Benstead in my speech: ‘It’s not just the surroundings that make Cambridge
special, it’s our wonderful residents that make our city what it is, too’.
Wednesday night proved that. Kim Wilkie wrote, ‘it was inspiring to see
such energy and determination’.



For those of you not able to attend, see the following link. It includes
Kim’s responses to questions. https://www.youtube.com/playli
st?list=PLwEUs8UyvFASXmddPQ82NBFQ68XQn9PUs

His speech is embedded in today’s Cambridge News article..

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/how-make
-cambridge-happy-city-12788816


*Urgent SOS message **from Cam Valley Forum about the River*

They are desperate for practical assistance to remove the invasive floating
pennywort weed doing so much damage to the River



*Sat, 1st April 2017 Floating Pennywort Action party to tackle the upper
Cam ( genuine !)*



The target is to remove as much pennywort as possible on the day, from
Byron’s Pool to Scudamores boat station. Scudamores are giving CamValley
Forum ten punts for the task, which will need a minimum crew of one
experienced poler, a raker and a netter. But just as important, Cam Valley
Forum also need people on the bank to rake out easy-to-reach Pennywort and
to help with lifting out filled bins from the punts and to dispose of the
material on the bank.  Please contact Mike Foley (Cam Valley Forum) on
mfpfoley at gmail.com

Start time is between *9 – 10 am* and those punts that go the furthest
(Byron’s Pool) will not necessarily be out for longer as there is *much to
do in the Grantchester Meadows* area. It would be very helpful if you could
supply details of your experience, ( punting etc) how long you want to be
involved, and whether you prefer/can help on land or on water.  If you have
a long handled rake and are prepared to bring it that would also be useful.

*Information about Pennywort and its impact on the River Cam*

The invasive Floating Pennywort has in recent years colonised the lower
Bourn Brook, the River Cam and some of its minor tributaries, and is
affecting an SSSI near Wicken.  It is also spreading down river on the
River Ouse and has been found as far down river as the Denver Sluice.
Since 1990, when it was first found in the wild on the River Chelmer in
Essex, it has spread rapidly and each year the number of affected sites is
expanding exponentially.   In high season there are long stretches of the
Cam where dense mats reach out towards the centre of the river, and in one
part it has grown from bank to bank.  It is a threat to bio-diversity, a
nuisance to river users and could increase the risk of flooding.



*Consultation on Cambridge Water Company’s Water Resource Management Plan *

Invasive pennywort weed is not the only problem facing the river. Pressure
on the chalk aquifers is the most serious long term problem facing the
River. Cam Valley Forum urge people to comment on *Cambridge Water
Company’s Water Resource Management Plan for* *2020 – 2045 and beyond* (see
attached). Comments due by: *Monday, March 27*. They have also asked us to
forward you Cam Valley Forum’s draft response to the consultation, fyi  (see
attached).

Best wishes,

Wendy

Chair,
Wendy Blythe
Chair, FeCRA
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