If you’re worried about the state of our rivers and waterways, you’ve come to the right place. My interviews with environmental campaigners, Angela Jones (here) and founder of River Action, Charles Watson (here) revealed quite how urgent it is that we take action. If you want to do your bit but are not sure how, here are some environmental resources to get you off the blocks.
Please do get in touch (girlontheriverpodcast@gmail.com, or @girlontheriver on social media) if you have suggestions for resources I can add to the list.
Petitions and campaigning groups
River Action UK petition to increase funding for environmental protection: https://riveractionuk.com/Campaigns/give-us-back-our-rivers/
Petition to ban water companies from discharging raw sewage into rivers: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/582336?fbclid=IwAR04J9j3jCnumWtom8xp06bcR_jEhxvK1v01bjlgCFMFSKNYVPHObesdrZs
River Action UK https://riveractionuk.com/
The Rivers Trust https://www.theriverstrust.org/
Earthwatch https://earthwatch.org.uk/
Friends of the Upper Wye https://www.fouw.org.uk/
Friends of the Lower Wye https://www.facebook.com/groups/friendsofthelowerwyee
Rowers United to Save the Planet https://www.facebook.com/groups/rowersunitedtosavetheplanet
Surfers Against Sewage – focused on oceans but lots of useful resources and information https://www.sas.org.uk/
Documentaries and programmes
Britain’s Dirty Rivers – The Briefing Room (BBC Radio 4) https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00108jb
BBC Panorama documentary on the river pollution scandal: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000vk71/panorama-the-river-pollution-scandal
Rivercide documentary about the crisis in the River Wye https://rivercide.tv/
Reporting pollution / environmental incidents
If you come across a pollution incident, such as raw sewage discharges into the river, take a photo or video if you can, but most importantly REPORT it as soon as possible to both the local water board AND the Environment Agency (if it’s in England) or Natural Resources Wales (if it’s in Wales).
Find your water company: https://www.ccwater.org.uk/households/whos-my-water-supplier/
Water monitoring – central resources
Fresh Water Watch https://freshwaterwatch.thewaterhub.org/
Water monitoring community groups https://freshwaterwatch.thewaterhub.org/projects/community-groups
Oxford Rivers Project https://www.thames21.org.uk/improving-rivers/oxford-rivers-project/?fbclid=IwAR1ASXn_b3dxoprJowtUwLXvmooRbBuVQ30PoDrIdl8Rr_pVIcRXrPvRMVE
River Wye: Friends of the Upper Wye citizen science project: https://www.fouw.org.uk/citizen-science
Writing to your MP
Find your MP https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP
How to write an effective letter to your MP: https://www.results.org.uk/sites/default/files/files/How%20to%20write%20to%20your%20MP_0.pdf
Environmental Audit Committee – Water Quality in Rivers enquiry https://committees.parliament.uk/work/891/water-quality-in-rivers/
Biosecurity and invasive species
Guidance for paddlers (applicable to rowers) from GN Non-Native Species Secretariat
http://www.nonnativespecies.org/checkcleandry/biosecurity-for-canoe-and-paddle-users.cfm
Plastic pollution / litter
Riverwatch – plastic pollution monitoring https://my.earthwatch.org.uk/science-projects/riverwatch-plastic-pollution
https://earthwatch.org.uk/images/downloads/Plastic_Rivers_Action_Plan_Toolkit_low_res.pdf
Rowers Against Rubbish https://www.rowersagainstrubbish.org/
Keep Britain Tidy – litter heroes https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/get-involved/volunteer/litter-heroes
Litter Action https://www.litteraction.org.uk/