Volunteers and environmental organisations have completed a major river clean-up and biodiversity project at Bedwellty Pits in Tredegar, removing tyres, rusting car parts and invasive plant species from the waterway.
Groundwork Wales officers, the local council's environmental quality officer and 10 local residents worked together to improve the area and protect one of the borough's valuable natural spaces. The initiative is part of the Blaenau Gwent Deal, a council strategy designed to work alongside local communities to build a fairer, more resilient area where voluntary work is supported.
Clearing waste and surveying biodiversity
Participants split into teams to pick up litter, conduct river sampling and run biodiversity surveys. They also took part in 'balsam bashing' to tackle the invasive non-native plant Himalayan balsam. The project forms part of the wider Healthy Rivers Programme run by Groundwork Wales, which aims to boost river health, protect wildlife and encourage local residents to care for nearby waterways.
Councillor Tommy Smith, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Environment, said: "This is a brilliant example of partnership working, and through our Blaenau Gwent Deal we are working differently with our communities to tackle local issues and challenges. Thank you to everyone who took part – you’ve helped to make a real difference."
Fighting invasive species and reducing flood risk
Jack Harrison, healthy rivers officer at Groundwork Wales, explained the focus of the work: "Our wider programme has the intention of improving river health, but in terms of our work today we are focusing on three key areas. We are removing the invasive species Himalayan balsam from this stretch of river, clearing waste from the riverbed and surrounding area, and surveying a variety of invertebrates, insects and bugs to establish the biodiversity present."
He added: "The balsam has negative effects on biodiversity because it grows rapidly and reaches a height that allows it to outcompete many native plant species. It contributes very little to the wider ecosystem as very few animals feed on it, meaning it provides limited food sources for local wildlife. The plant is also shallow-rooted and dies back each winter. Where it has displaced native vegetation, riverbanks can be left exposed and vulnerable to erosion, which can contribute to increased flood risk downstream. By removing the balsam, we're helping to protect local ecosystems, restore native habitats and potentially help protect people's homes from future flood risks."
He also noted that discarded tyres found on site can release microplastics and pollutants into the environment, negatively affecting fish, insects and other wildlife. Removing these hazards helps create a healthier river environment.
Community involvement and future plans
Groundwork Wales worked closely with Blaenau Gwent Council to identify the site and host the event, with local authority teams helping to collect, transport and dispose of all the retrieved rubbish. Among those giving up their time were local residents Diane and Mike Turner, who became council litter champions last year. Diane commented: "This is our first time volunteering with Groundwork Wales. Mike and I became litter champions last summer after seeing other people getting involved and deciding we'd like to do our bit too. Today Mike is helping with the river sampling, while I'm helping to clean up the surrounding riverbank."
Fellow litter champion Kathryn Learwood stated: "I regularly take part in litter picks in this area and run a Facebook group called 'Keeping Tredegar Tidy', where local litter champions come together to help care for our community. This is a stunning area with incredible natural beauty, but sadly it can become heavily littered, particularly during the summer months. Waste from picnics and barbecues is often left behind, while winter flooding washes rubbish downstream from the town. We find everything from car parts and children's toys to household waste. Keeping this area clean is really important to me because it’s where I live and walk my dogs. It’s a beautiful place, rich in nature, and it deserves to be protected."
Volunteer Cathy Johnson noted: "I volunteered because I want to help keep the environment clean. I enjoy being outdoors in the fresh air, and there’s a real sense of achievement in making a visible difference to the local area."
John Mewett, local environmental quality officer, said: "As a council, we have the facilities to collect and dispose of the waste removed from the site and provide equipment, so we were pleased to work together to organise the day. It’s great working alongside Groundwork Wales, local litter champions, community groups and volunteers to remove tyres, scrap metal and other waste from the river, helping to protect and improve this important local environment. Partnership working like this is a fantastic way of bringing together organisations and residents who share a common goal of caring for our natural spaces and part of our Blaenau Gwent Deal. This is part of an ongoing effort to improve the area, and we are already exploring opportunities to involve local schools in future activities at the site. It was a very successful day. I would like to thank everyone who gave up their time to take part. Their hard work and commitment have made a real difference and demonstrate how much our community cares about protecting and enhancing the local environment."
The project highlights the positive impact that joint working and community action can have on conservation, nature and climate resilience across Blaenau Gwent.
