Natural History
The river is mainly an urban waterway and has suffered from sewage effluent and industrial waste, though levels of pollutants and mine water discharges have decreased since 1999. Heavy rain can cause pollutant levels to rise and the river suffers from tipping and urban litter.
There are several non-native species of plant found along the river including Giant Hogweed, Himalayan Balsam and Japanese knotweed. Bistort, wild garlic, nettles and dandelions are found in abundance in the meadows betweenthe conurbations.
Read more about this topic: River Spen
Famous quotes containing the words natural and/or history:
“Natural science will in time incorporate into itself the science of man, just as the science of man will incorporate into itself natural science: there will be one science.”
—Karl Marx (1818–1883)
“Anything in history or nature that can be described as changing steadily can be seen as heading toward catastrophe.”
—Susan Sontag (b. 1933)