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BBC Inside Science

What makes a healthy river?

BBC Inside Science

BBC

Technology, Science

4.51.3K Ratings

🗓️ 21 September 2023

⏱️ 36 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

River health has captured the public imagination, particularly as overspills from sewers have been getting more attention in the media. But the condition of a river is so much more complicated than what flows into it from our water treatment systems. Agriculture, roads, how we use our drains, what we buy and even the medicines and drugs we take can all have an impact on our rivers and the plants and animals that call them home. So how are UK rivers doing? And what needs to happen to help those waterways that are drowning in pollution? Joining the BBC's Marnie Chesterton on stage at Green Man Festival in Wales to discuss all this is: Dave Johnston, team leader of environmental reporting at Natural Resources Wales, whose responsibility it is to monitor Welsh rivers. Joanne Cable, head of organisms and environment division at Cardiff University, whose focus is on biodiversity and what we at home can do to support our rivers. Simon Evans, chief executive of The Wye and Usk Foundation, who runs citizen science projects to support these two rivers local to the festival. Christian Dunn, wetland biologist at Bangor University, who is keen to explain the power of wetlands and has also done some surprising research into the river near Glastonbury Festival. Presenter: Marnie Chesterton Producers: Harrison Lewis and Hannah Robins Research: Liam Collins-Jones Studio Managers: Mike Cox and Duncan Hannant Editor: Richard Collings

Transcript

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0:00.0

BBC sounds, music, radio, podcasts.

0:04.9

Hello, this is the podcast edition of BBC Inside Science,

0:09.2

first broadcast on the 24th of August, 2023,

0:13.3

but recorded slightly earlier, whilst Welley Clad

0:16.6

at a rainy Green Man festival.

0:18.9

Enjoy.

0:20.2

Hello, and welcome to the Green Man Festival.

0:24.3

Inside Science is coming to you

0:26.3

from this excellent jamboree on the Glanderska State in Wales,

0:29.8

and you can probably hear some music in the background.

0:32.6

Who here is a Green Man regular?

0:35.1

Oh!

0:36.4

Yeah, yeah, okay.

0:37.7

And who is just lost and confused

0:40.4

in braving the rain for the first time?

0:42.2

Oh!

0:43.5

I love this festival, and it's a pretty special mix

0:47.2

of music and talks, and the location is also worth a mention.

0:51.5

We are perched above the River Ask,

0:54.1

which has been bestowed with the title

0:56.6

Special Area of Conservation.

0:59.5

It also has the less illustrious crown,

...

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