Visitors not deterred by low river levels

The River Wye is at one of its lowest recorded levels after weeks of hot, dry weather, but businesses and visitors say the conditions are not stopping people enjoying it.

Parts of the river have been identified among the driest stretches in England after prolonged dry weather, exposing large areas of shingle along its banks.

Andy Ormiston, from Hereford Canoe Hire, admitted the low water levels had created some challenges, but said the river's condition was better than its reputation suggested.

"We are incredibly busy. We're as busy as we've ever been," he said.

Ormiston said he felt "really confident" about the Wye, adding the "water clarity and quality is really clear" and "if you look across now, you can see right the way through the bottom".

"There's loads of wildlife, there's loads of young fish, there's lots and lots of good things.

"So I think it gives me confidence that if we look after the river and don't stop putting bad stuff in it, then it will recover."

On Wednesday, the West Midlands was declared in drought by the Environment Agency.

Rivers were running low, farmers were having to harvest crops early and wildfire risk was increasing, it said.

On the hot conditions boosting tourism, Tresseck campsite owner, Jeff Goulding, said it was "definitely benefiting from this dry weather".

He added: "The beach gets bigger, the river gets lower and that's where people love to come and spend some time."

But Goulding also said the river was "definitely dropping even lower than normal so that's not good".

"We're worried about the extremes of the weather that we're seeing - the hot, dry summers and the wet winters."

The Wye is 155 miles long and starts in Wales, runs through Herefordshire and Gloucestershire in England, before crossing the border again.

Fownhope residents Sue and Paul, who were canoeing with their grandchildren, said their trip was "absolutely wonderful".

They came from Lucksall caravan site near Fownhope to Hoarwithy over almost four hours, including stopping for drink and snacks.

Sue, who observed the river was "very low", said: "We've often watched the boats going down the river from Fownhope and we've always said 'why haven't we ever done that?'

"So now we have."

Paul said the river was "cleaner than I thought actually".

Sue pointed out that "we did ground [the canoe] a few times, didn't we?"

"So our grandson had to get out and push it off the riverbed.... the river was so shallow."

Sue added they were given "a full briefing of what to expect on our way down, in as much as that the river was going to be shallow, that we may have to get out and push the boat off the riverbed".

She also said there was "enough water in the river to carry you down without totally grounding".

Their grandchildren, Loran and Oswyn, said they had seen "lots of mink, kingfishers, two herons, a whole lot of geese, some baby trout swimming on the water and minnows".

In May, it emerged the Wye had become the first river in the UK to be given cross-border rights covering it from source to sea.

The charter, which was launched in Hay-on-Wye, recognises how important the river is for people and nature now and in the future.

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