The Rivers Trust

16/10/2026

Our rivers are in crisis.

Shaping everything from clean water and thriving wildlife to our ability to cope with floods, droughts, and the impacts of climate change, the health of our waterways affects all of us.

When they're not fit for the future, neither are we.

Our 2026 Report reveals the scale of the challenges facing our rivers and the concerning condition many are in.

🐟 But it also shows that recovery is possible, highlighting the solutions we know work and urgently need, alongside real-world examples of where they are already making a difference.

Find out what's happening in rivers near you and discover how you can stand up for your local river. 👇

https://theriverstrust.org/rivers-report-2026

13/10/2026

13/10/2026

How much do you really know about the health of your local river?

Pollution from sewage, chemicals, plastics, and fertilisers, along with droughts, flooding, abstraction, and invasive species, all put a huge amount of pressure on our rivers.

Even those that look beautiful can still be in trouble, and when our rivers aren't fit for the future, neither are we.

Read our biggest-ever 2026 Report to find out what's happening in rivers near you, what needs to be done to urgently restore our waterways, and how you can be a voice for your local river. ✊

https://theriverstrust.org/rivers-report-2026

12/10/2026

📢 We’ve just published our biggest ever 2026 State of Our Rivers Report!

Packed with the latest data on river health, interactive maps, and deep dives into issues including pollution, drought, and Atlantic salmon, the message of the report is clear...

⚠️ Our rivers are still in crisis, and climate change is making things worse.

But, as Robert Macfarlane said in the report's foreword, "despair is a luxury: we cannot and must not feel overwhelmed in the face of the crisis. Our fate flows with rivers — and always has.”

We know what needs to be done. The report also shares the solutions that we know work for rivers, and celebrates where taking action is already making a difference.

We all rely on healthy rivers, but if they’re not fit for the future, neither are we.

Please read and share the report 👇

https://theriverstrust.org/state-of-our-rivers

10/10/2026

🎉 We are thrilled to congratulate one of our own, Agricultural Engagement Officer Joe Lyall, as he wins this year’s Farmers Weekly Young Farmer of the Year award!

Joe is a dairy farmer from Cumbria who first joined us on a 9-month student placement before taking on a Junior Nuffield Scholarship and then returning as part of our Agricultural Engagement team. He receives the award for his innovation, strong grasp of technical and commercial aspects of dairy farming, and his focus on sustainability and welfare.

He also plays a key role in our Landscape Recovery projects and other farmer-facing work areas, so we couldn’t think of anyone more deserving of this award!

Congratulations Joe, we’re immensely proud of your work! 💙

https://www.fwi.co.uk/news/farmers-weekly-awards-2026-young-farmer-of-the-year

09/10/2026

📊 The September 2026 Big River Watch results are in!

After a summer of record-breaking temperatures and low rainfall, 1,973 of you across the UK and Ireland took time to check in on your local river by taking part in our Big River Watch.

Through 1,443 surveys, you helped create a valuable snapshot of river health, capturing both the pressures facing our waterways and the importance of healthy, thriving rivers, not just for wildlife, but for people too.

Inside the September 2026 Big River Watch Report you'll find:

🦆 Wildlife highlights
☀️ The impacts of a challenging summer
🚧 How Big River Watchers are helping reconnect rivers
💙 Why healthy rivers matter for nature and people

Read the report 👇️
https://theriverstrust.org/big-river-watch-september-2026-report

A huge thank you to everyone who got involved, from submitting surveys to spreading the word. 🙌

Big River Watch will return in spring 2027. Can't wait that long for your next opportunity to help your local river? You'll find plenty of ways to get involved at the end of the report.

08/10/2026

When rivers flow freely, nature and communities thrive.

🚧 This , we're celebrating the partnerships helping to reconnect rivers across Europe.

The Rivers Trust plays a leading role in developing the River Obstacles Database, which maps more than 49,000 barriers in England. This open data helps target river restoration and environmental improvements.

Citizen scientists are making a difference too! Through our Big River Watch, volunteers have identified almost 300 previously unreported barriers in the last three years. 🙌

🐟 Every barrier removed helps wildlife move more freely, restores natural river processes, and creates healthier, more resilient rivers for people and nature.

A brilliant example of this in action is the removal of the Skeeby Beck ford by Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust (pictured below), which reopened 56km of river habitat across Yorkshire.

02/10/2026

🏢 Descending the side of a London skyscraper for healthier rivers.

On 17th September, Pierrick and Natalie from our Comms team bravely put their nerves to the test, abseiling 34 metres down Atlantic House in London alongside staff from Hogan Lovells Cadwalader to raise money for The Rivers Trust.

To get a sense of the scale of the challenge, check out a clip of Pierrick's descent at the end of the carousel.

They're already at 87% of their £400 fundraising target, and there's still time to celebrate their efforts and help get them over the finish line. Every pound raised supports our work to protect and restore rivers across the UK and Ireland. 💙

Donate here 👉 https://www.justgiving.com/page/hogan-lovells-cadwalader-charity-partnerships-1276?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

Photo credit: Russell Harper Photography

01/10/2026

🎉 Positive River News!

Free-roaming beavers, crayfish releases, weir removals, and citizen science: September was a busy month for our rivers, with plenty of highlights to celebrate.

What was your favourite story from our rivers in September? Share it in the comments 💙

Featured this month:
South East Rivers Trust, Mersey Rivers Trust, Tyne Rivers Trust, Inishowen Rivers Trust, West Cumbria Rivers Trust, Ribble Rivers Trust, and ARK - Action for the River Kennet

Want to get involved? Find your local Rivers Trust and volunteering opportunities near you 👇

https://theriverstrust.org/about-us/member-trusts