river frome water cycle print

Helping the river

small daily changes can make a difference

We’ve worked with partners and local artist Tamsyn Gill to create a series of beautiful, yet useful posters to help: save you money, prevent your drains blocking up and to help reduce chemicals, and excessive water entering treatment plants and the river.

Please download a poster and share far and wide to help small changes have a big impact:

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Cleaning for the river. All purpose cleaner Add 150ml water, 60ml white vinegar, 40ml surgical spirit (rubbing alcohol) and 20 drops of essential oil (lemon, tea tree, peppermint or eucalyptus work well) to a spray bottle and mix well. Spray on surface and wipe clean - it’s like magic! Don’t use on natural stone, wooden floors/furniture, unsealed grout or waxed surfaces. (By Nancy Birtwhistle) Limescale and mould:
Spray with neat white vinegar (add a few drops of essential oils for a fresh scent), leave briefly, then rinse and wipe clean Unblock a plughole Pour boiled water down the plughole.
Add 1 tbsp bicarbonate of soda, then 250 ml white vinegar.
Let it fizz, then pop the plug in and leave for 10–15 minutes.
Finish by flushing through with more boiling water. Repeat frequently to drains flowing! (By Fill) Descale your kettle Boil a half-full kettle, add 1-2 tbsp of citric acid Leave to sit for 30 minutes, pour it away. Repeat if needed. Rinse a couple of times Make your toilet sparkle Plunge in the toilet brush to lower the water level, add 4 heaped tbsp of citric acid, then carefully pour in boiled water. Leave for a few hours (or overnight), scrub and & flush

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From food to chemicals, what goes down the sink can block pipes and harm river life — small swaps make a big difference: 1) Milk: Freeze, fertilise plants (dilute with water 1:4), or compost 2) Coffee & grounds: Compost, sprinkle on plants, or food caddy. 3) Oils & fats: Pour into a jar - take to recycling centre. Wipe pans before washing up. 4) Food scraps, eggshells, soups & sauces: Pop in the food caddy or compost. 5) Medication: Take back to the pharmacy. 6) Chemicals (paint, cleaning fluids, white spirit): Take to a recycling centre.

Download

Download

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Get intimate

Get to know your local river well by spending time there, knowing where it starts (source) and ends (the mouth) and by learning about the creatures and plants that call it home.

Also, remember the connection between your body, your home and these waterways and importantly, talk about it! Download the water cycle to help tell the story of Fromes water:

river frome water cycle print

Other ways to help

Dicussions with our new MP Sarah Dyke - Friends of the River Frome

Write

Write to your local MP and water companies to tell them you care. Signing petitions and requesting meetings help persuade politicians to vote for rivers

Report

Report sewage, dead fish, strange colours or smells to the Environment Agency

Sewage map

Understand how and where sewage is entering the river by exploring the sewage map

3x adult and 1x child 'Frome Families for the Future' volunteers at a local event near the river

Volunteer

Volunteer with a local action group: Frome Families for the Future, Friends of the River Frome, Bristol Avon Rivers Trust, We Are Avon, The Rivers Trust