"We were truly alarmed to discover that the Environment Agency was allowing Thames Water to pump untreated sewage into the River Windrush."

“Bepton Down is just below the South Downs Way on a north facing slope with stunning views. It should be a unique area of chalk downland – but it isn’t.”

The first reports of deliberate disturbance were in 2003, when two men were caught attempting to release domestic pigeons, probably laced with poison.

"We used to have a pot of money at the Environment Agency specifically allocated for nature conservation projects. As the cuts happened, we kept thinking - how are we supposed to do our job?"

"I am fortunate enough to live by Northumberland’s stunning coastline. But just over a mile away is Lynemouth beach which has been desecrated by decades of dumping."

There have been many pollution incidents in and around the Watford area involving overflowing sewers, waste from industry and raw sewage as a result of mis-connections from properties.

"I first became aware of raw sewage entering the River Wharfe at Ilkley because my friend, a fisherman, was complaining that instead of catching fish he was catching sanitary products, condoms and toilet paper."

After a wet autumn, a farmer on land sloping down to a small tributary was aware that his growing herd of cattle was reducing his slurry storage capacity.

"Little did I think that when I saw Murphy jump into the back of the car that when I brought him home I would be carrying him, limp and lifeless."