What’s polluting the River Char?
And what can we do about it?
An evening of practical talks with local experts
Dr. John Kenward and Dr Julie Leah
Thursday 15 October, 2026 ~ 7pm
James Hargreaves Hall, Morcombelake DT6 6EA
John and Julie will explore:
Flea and tick treatments – how to protect our pets without damaging river life
How much damage is done to local rivers by our use of flea and tick treatments on domestic pets? How can we most safely treat a dog or cat?
Pesticides and garden chemicals – caring for our homes and gardens without harming the environment
How much damage is done to local rivers by our use of weedkillers, insecticides, poisons and fungicides? How can we manage pests in our homes and gardens better?
Slurry and sewage – what local river monitoring is finding
What kind of pollution is being found and what are the principal causes?
Refreshments available.
Entry: £3 for Friends of Hardown Hill members; £5 for non-members.
Julie Leah has been a gardener for 20 years. She is a molecular biologist by training and previously worked in the pharmaceutical industry with a PhD in parasitology.
She has a passion for protecting wildlife, in particular understanding how simple changes in our use of chemicals and how we garden can create huge changes for our natural environment.
John Kenward is a retired veterinary surgeon, who is well qualified to tell us about the latest thinking in parasite control in domestic animals, the harmful effects this has on the natural environment and especially the river, and suggestions on how to avoid them.
John set up and runs the River Char Action Group’s Home Laboratory and works closely with Wessex Water to validate test results.
