ANYONE who wants to help keep the River Crouch ship shape is being urged to roll up their sleeves this weekend.

The River Crouch Conservation Trust are holding their first work party of the year, this Sunday (April 30) at 9am.

The organisation was formed to monitor the river and carry out clean up work parties twice a year following a serious pollution incident in 2009 involving the stretch of the river running through Memorial Park in Wickford.

The remit of the group is to clean the river of rubbish and to bring it back to a quality which will benefit all forms of wildlife, from water voles, fish to invertebrates and for the pleasure of the general public.

Thanks to the hard work of members the river is now at its best and the fish and wildlife are plentiful. Shoals of fish are seen very regularly as are Kingfishers and Water Voles. As the river is tidal, flounders have also been seen in the water, as far up as Wickford itself.

Anyone interested in helping with the first work party of 2017 should meet at the gates of Memorial Park in Memorial Approach, (postcode SS11 7HJ)

Remember to dress in old clothes and bring a pair of gloves!

www.rivercrouchconservationtrust.org.uk/

www.facebook.com/rivercrouchconservationtrust/