A charity which cares for rivers, lakes and wetlands is inviting members of the local community from all around the Brechfa Forest area to find out about their work and how the community might be able to help their conservation efforts.

Having formed after an amalgamation of smaller Trusts in 2017, the West Wales Rivers Trust strives to conserve the network of waterways that cover Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.

Faced with pollution issues, changes of land use and at-sea industrial fishing activities, the regions famous sewin and salmon populations have dwindled to just a remnant few.

These iconic species are the flagship of the charity’s conservation efforts as restoration of a healthy, accessible waterway can be showcased by the fish populations it sustains.

With various projects already on the ground in Carmarthenshire, the West Wales Rivers Trust would now like to speak to the Brechfa Forest community to develop a conservation plan for their all-important tributaries.

The Trust would like to see as many members of the community represented as possible as it is hoped that they can all be involved in any project work that may arise.

The evening will consist of an informal gathering at the Brechfa Church Hall with a series of short presentations to explain the work of the Trust and how locals can help shape what happens to Brechfa Forest’s waterways going forward.

Children (and adults!) are invited to don their wellies and join the West Wales Rivers Project Officer in collecting river life from the nearby Marlais before the event in the hall begins.

Anyone interested in watching or helping to take the river sample should meet outside Brechfa Church Hall at 6pm on Thursday September 19, whereas the indoor event starts at 6:30pm and lasts an hour.

The river conservation charity would like to urge all community group representatives and residents to attend so that all voices can contribute to a great idea.

Current projects include working with farmers to advise on practices to reduce agricultural run-off, working with Carmarthenshire Fisherman’s Federation to remove plastics from rivers and working with Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum to monitor nitrates in the Milford Haven waterway.

For more information visit westwalesriverstrust.org.