Volunteers in the north Shropshire town of Ellesmere have been able to wade into the Mere and clear debris from its lake bed after the hottest and driest summer on record drove water levels down across the country.
Lee Fraser, the park ranger responsible for The Mere, said the low water has allowed him and local residents to collect what was previously out of reach, including bricks, pottery and discarded mobile phones. The team gathered five large bucket loads of rubbish in less than an hour, with the refuse stretching across half the length of the town’s promenade.
The extreme weather this year has left lakes and rivers struggling, prompting officials to adapt their clean-up methods. This summer marks one of the hottest and driest periods in UK history, with temperatures soaring above normal.
Fraser said the team now stands in the water rather than using boats, as it is easier to see what is lying beneath the surface. He noted that trying to locate items from a boat or while standing on the bank proved difficult, even when someone shouted that the debris was right next to them.
Old bricks are among the things found in the Mere. Fraser added that he thought it would take some time for the water level to recover, even with the heavy rains that have recently occurred. The Mere is also cared for by volunteers like local resident Wendy Salter, who has been part of the team for three years and said she has enjoyed volunteering to help her community.
“A lot of this rubbish comes from such a big area. What we find varies a lot. I also found a mobile phone last week,” Salter said.
I hope the water levels rise soon; the lake deserves to be restored properly.
Five bucket loads in an hour? That is incredibly productive work by the volunteers.
Good to see locals coming together for such a vital cleanup effort!