River Cleaning

Serious work to clear the Trym of rubbish started in July 2018 when the section of the river from the Avon to edge of the Blaise Estate was cleared by volunteers. About 3 tonnes of rubbish were removed. Since then, various groups have been regularly clearing litter and Himalayan Balsam from the Trym and its main tributary Hazel Brook to improve the ecology of the river system.

Trout in the Trym aim to remove all the things in the river system that are not good for the natural environment, or harm the appearance of the river system. Items like branches and other natural wood are left in as they provide ‘food’ for the river.

How to help

Join a group

We have trained leaders who liaise with the Council and ensure that river cleaning sessions are managed in a safe and effective manner.

We are not currently recruiting new volunteers for river cleaning, but if you would like to register your interest, please email troutinthetrym@gmail.com.

Stopping litter ending up in the water is an effective way of protecting our rivers and streams. If you would like to get involved in litter picking the green spaces around the Trym, please contact SusWot (Sustainable Westbury-on-Trym) on suswot2050@gmail.com.

Report pollution

If you spot pollution problems around the river system, you can find out who to contact on our Reporting Issues page. The more people report pollution, the more likely the Council and the water companies are to take action to stop it.

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