Group help fish out litter and debris of river Colne

Tracy Martinez, 58, and her wife, Lisa Duquemin, 47, felt compelled to get their hands dirty by fishing out litter and debris out of the River Colne after they saw Jasamine Jackdaw and Jonny Buffalo embark upon a similar project a few weeks ago.

Ms Martinez and Ms Duquemin focussed their efforts near the bridge on East Hill.

Ms Martinez said that once she had got in touch with Ms Jackdaw, she and her wife felt ready to get down to business on the murky banks of the river.

She said: “We were inspired by what Jasamine and Jonny were doing.”

Litter collected from East Bay (2)

“I also saw them at Colchester Park where they were doing an eco event – I got in touch with Jasamine and said we live at a tidal part of the river where everything gets washed up and said that we want to do what she and her husband are doing.

“They have been really helpful letting us know what to do.”

With World River Day falling on the fourth Sunday of every September, Ms Martinez and Ms Duquemin got down to work with eight others on Sunday, September 26, retrieving junk and litter that had fallen to the bottom of the riverbed on East Bay.

Litter collected from East Bay (1)

“We were cleaning up the end of the Colne Estuary – it’s where the sea meets the river that everything seems to get dumped.

“We look out our window and see everything that the tide has brought up.

“There are trolleys, cans that people had thrown in, bits of metal that were probably from the old mill, and bottles full of mud and slugs – it was disgusting.”

Tracy Martinez in the river with her kayak

Ms Martinez added that as grimy as much of the work was, it was still a fulfilling day out.

“It was a real community get together of all ages – we have formed a little group here and are all enthused to do it again.”