"Diffuse pollution is a tricky one to explain. At Environment Agency Wales, we often have to tackle pollution that comes from a single source - an oil slick, a chemical leak or an industrial spill. You can spot the source and take action.

But diffuse pollution is different. It comes from lots of small, scattered sources that, on their own, do not cause much of a problem. But when you add them all together it can damage the ecology of nearby rivers and affect water quality.

And that isn't good for the fish that live there.

Which is why it was great to get see the young children from Llanfechain School showing their support for a new initiative to clean up their local river.

The day started with a march through the middle of Llanfyllin. The school children paraded a shoal of wooden salmon, made and painted by themselves and local community arts organisation, Arts Connection.

They then released their own generation of young salmon into the River Cain. The salmon had been hatched, raised and cared for by the young people from the Llanfyllin Youth and Community Centre.

But these young salmon need a clean, healthy river to come back to, to spawn and keep the cycle of life going.

Which is where I come in.

As regulators of the environment, we at the Environment Agency see the damage that avoidable pollution incidents can cause - and the cost to the polluter when we prosecute them.

But the best way to tackle pollution is to avoid it in the first place. Across the Agency we are spending more time giving guidance and advice to industry and agriculture on how they can seriously reduce the risk of causing pollution.

Prevention, rather than cure.

As a Catchment Co-ordinator for the River Cain, my job is to provide guidance through organised visits, workshops and on a one to one basis, on things that local businesses and farmers can do to help - especially with diffuse pollution.

There are simple measures they can put in place which can mean better profitability on the farm or business - and also mean cutting the risk of diffuse pollution.

It's all about working together to get better results for the environment and for them. And if it means a healthier environment for these young salmon to thrive - the whole community will see the benefit."

Article by Richard Dearing