Our sister paper, The Monmouthshire Beacon, was delighted to see that former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, has shared our article about the River Wye Charter launch, and pledged his support to preserve the waterway.

A charter has been developed to highlight the importance of protecting the health of the River Wye. It is endorsed by councils and institutions including Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, Powys and the Forest of Dean as well as the Brycheiniog National Park and the Wye Valley National Landscape.

When sharing his post on Instagram, Robert Plant said: “Let this be the beginning of an awakening of the devastation that has quietly killed off so much life in the arteries of our land... act to save our rivers now.”

The musician has become a prominent campaigner to save the River Wye and in the past has used his social media platforms to highlight the severity of river pollution issues to a wider audience in a bid to of raise further awareness.

The rock icon has been a longtime supporter of the UK’s rivers and has campaigned in the name of the Wye, Severn, Usk and Lugg.

The Kidderminster Shuttle reported that the star attended a ‘Remember Our River’ procession in aid of protecting the River Severn from pollution.

“We can’t stand by and watch this happen. It can’t be ignored. It’s time that we all pull together,” said Mr Plant.

Similarly, he shared a BBC article further highlighting the pollution damage in the River Wye.

The rocker who has close connections to the Monmouthshire area and lived in the Wye Valley in Penallt for a decade, said, “Please support and post this detail... the Wye is all but a drain! HELP.”

The River Wye extends for 155 miles and it is thought to be one of the most important rivers in Europe for nature conservation according to Save the Wye.

The river flows through four counties, Powys, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire. However the river has experienced a lot of pollution over a number of years. There have been high levels of phosphates which are polluting the river and have caused algal blooms which are hazardous.

The Wye is also being impacted from sewage, microplastics and superbugs and the impact will result in the river becoming a green colour, unfit for use as it will be dangerous for people’s health.

Mr Plant’s connection to the River Wye branches off of his own personal connection to the waterways.

He lived at The Argoed which is a Grade II-listed Jacobean country house in Penallt, which sits above the Wye, and during his time here headlined a concert beside the river in the town field next to Monmouth Rowing Club.