This is worrying news for nature. This week Welsh Government rightly identified that more needs to be done to address the nature crisis, but pressure put on Welsh Government means that more manure will threaten our watercourses. 

"The delayed measures to reduce the amount of slurry and manure allowed to be spread on farmland across Wales are vital to help stop the ongoing pollution of our rivers. Any delay will lead to further deterioration in the quality of our rivers. This will have devastating impacts on wildlife" said Tim Birch from Wildlife Trusts Wales. 

Rather than announcing a delay, WTSWW urges the Welsh Government to implement these regulations as quickly as possible. 

The Welsh Government announced a whole series of important initiatives four days ago to help achieve nature's recovery across Wales. A target of protecting 30% of land, freshwater and sea and restoring nature by 2030 has been set by the Welsh Government in line with a new global UN initiative to be announced in Montreal, Canada later this year. 

"If Wales is serious about protecting and restoring our precious rivers, we need urgent action to stop them getting polluted from the spreading of excess slurry on the land. The announcement of delaying action in this area is a significant backwards step in nature's recovery across Wales" said Tim Birch from Wildlife Trust Wales.

Although measures to deal with manure can be expensive Welsh Government released £32 million this summer and a further £20 million today. Farming sustainably is critical for natures recovery, but people are already outraged at the state of our rivers. A study this year showed 60% of phosphate pollution on the River Wye comes from farming. We must reduce the amount of manure and other fertilizers going onto the land if we are to ever see clean and healthy rivers in Wales.