Some answers, and more questions from pilot plastics survey.

Living Uplands supported Durham Wildlife Trust investigate the presence of plastics along the River Wear, with Teesside University providing the scientific backup. This Source to Sea project has taken a little longer than planned initially (Covid!). Delay aside, this pilot study has resulted in some interesting findings and set a solid foundation for future work.

We reported sampling from the river at locations, which took place last summer, and on the education team at DWT engaged with local schools to identify plastics in the environment during Autumn term. The sample locations were at Wearhead (WH), Frosterley (F), Bishop Auckland (BA), Durham (D), and Chester-le-Street (C).

A big thanks to all the schools who engaged with the Durham Wildlife Trust education team Wearhead Primary, Wolsingham Secondary, and Chester-le-Street Park View Academy. We're looking forward to seeing the presentation of their local litter projects and how the data they gathered fits alongside the work of the Teeside University study - how to the large items of plastic litter reflect into the type of microplastics in the River.

Part of the Teesside work was to establish the best sampling methodologies with a view to a larger future study. It seems there is lots more to investigate from the preliminary results.

The first finding is that there were microplastics found at every sample site, from the very rural Wearhead (where it might have been expected to find little to no microplastics) to very urban Chester-le-Street. The University team also found that while the presence of microplastics generally increased as we moved down the river to Durham, the quantity of microplastics was markedly lower in Chester-le-street.

As well as taking samples from the flowing water, samples were also taken from the sediment at each location. Analysis showed that microplastics in the sediment did not show an increase as we moved down the river, where microfibers were the most abundant type of plastics identified.

There seems to be few other studies of Rivers such as the Wear with which to compare. A full scientific paper will be written once all analysis is complete. This was a pilot study, on a small scale. It has thrown up interesting questions.

Covid meant the samples were taken over a few weeks - would samples taken around the same date be very different?

Samples were taken in September, which in 2021 had around average rainfall - would the results differ at different times of the year, would heavy rains and a winter torrent see that Chester-le-Street outcome radically change?

What is the source of plastics and the relationship to the presence in the water course - how much is litter, overflow from wastewater systems or water treatment works, and what is the impact on the ecology of the river?

This small pilot study was never likely to provide definitive outcomes, but it has been hugely valuable in generating basic data from which questions and a plan for a larger study can be shaped for the future. We're looking forward to all the findings being brought together in a published scientific paper later in the year.

Living Uplands supported this pilot and looks forward to it being the foundation of a bigger project because without solid reliable and detailed data remedy and forward planning is difficult. Worse, a decision without that data may target a symptom, without understanding the consequences and addressing the fundamental challenges. This is hugely important in any decision making process.

As Living Uplands takes stock of the challenges ahead on Climate Change it is clear we require a detailed picture of the Uplands, built on reliable detailed data and measures, and establish the baselines and the means to monitor change in our landscape and environment. We need to assure we make decisions that stand the test of time. Our Climate is changing. We'll not get a second chance in the decades ahead.