Just one shopping trolley hauled from River Uck on clean-up day

A single shopping trolley, wooden packing crate, fridge door, tyres and polythene wrapping material were cleared from the River Uck at the weekend.

The Sussex Ouse Conservation Society organised a spring clean on Sunday for the eighth consecutive year and were helped by members of the Brighter Uckfield Campaign.

Trustee and conservation volunteer, with the conservation society, Mark Davis said since the river clean-up initiative started there had been a “huge” reduction in the amount of items dumped in the river.

This year’s haul compared favourably with 1.7 tonnes cleared in the early years.

“As with previous years the worst problem is litter, with almost 40 bags collected during the day,” said Mr Davis.

“However, with changes in packaging material, a greater percentage is now degradable but none the less is still unsightly."

He hoped the message to protect our natural environment was getting through and local residents were taking more care of one of the town’s best assets.

A variety of wildlife lives in the river including Sea Trout and the Grey Wagtail. It also provides a corridor for many species to spread and colonise new areas.

Mr Davis said: “Maybe one day we will see otters and water voles return, where they were present in the 1970s."

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