River Action

9. Dates for your Diary!

The Gathering: www.riverhope.org.uk/the-gathering/
The Big Plastic Count: www.instagram.com/thebigplasti...
Friends of the Medway: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/film-scree...
Friends of the Dart: www.instagram.com/p/DUlynGljqWX/
Film Screening: www.eventbrite.com/e/film-scree...

The Sewage Campaign Network We are the Sewage Campaign Network, a coalition of independent local groups dedicated to protecting waterways from sewage pollution. We stand for clean water, environmental advocacy, and accountabilit...

8. Briefing on Water Reform paper

The Sewage Campaign Network hosted a parliamentary briefing on the Water Reform White Paper, hosted by Alistair Carmichael, Anna Dixon and Clive Lewis to discuss the future of water reform.

www.sewagecampaignnetwork.org.uk

Devon tree‑planting project aims to clean up River Erme Landowners say the trees will help filter water running off farmland to protect a swimming spot.

7. Tree Planting for our Rivers

Campaign group Wild About the Erme River, alongside local partners, has launched an ambitious project to plant 16,000 trees above the River Erme in Devon. The scheme aims to reduce agricultural run-off and improve the river’s health.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Can 'natural' flood defences in Clitheroe help protect homes? Concrete defences cannot be built everywhere, so Lancashire conservationists take a natural approach.

6. Flood Management Project Success

Ribble Rivers Trust has completed an innovative natural flood management project in Clitheroe, installing wetlands, leaky dams and ponds along Mearley Brook and Worston Brook.

@ribbleriverstrust.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Wildlife benefits from Hertfordshire chalk river restoration Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust say the £1.72m regeneration will help native wildlife to thrive.

5. Chalk River Restoration

@hertswildlifetrust.bsky.social has completed a £1.72m chalk river restoration project in Hertfordshire, with hundreds of volunteers helping restore habitats and improve the health of these globally rare rivers.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

MPs call for faster action on Water Pollution following Clean Water Sports Alliance drop-in - British Rowing The drop in session brought together Parliamentarians and representatives of the Clean Water Sports Alliance

4. Parliamentary Drop-In on the Water Reform Bill

The Clean Water Sports Alliance hosted a parliamentary drop-in calling for stronger protections for recreational water users and tighter controls on water pollution in the upcoming Water Reform Bill
www.britishrowing.org/2026/02/mps-...

WATCH: The volunteers bringing Hounslow's river and parks back to life | South West Londoner A local man has launched a mission to tackle litter across the Hounslow borough and volunteers from all walks of life have joined him along the way.

3. Volunteers Reviving Hounslow’s Rivers

Mark Hardy, a Hounslow resident, has launched a grassroots mission to clean up local riversides. Joined by volunteers and passers-by, the group has removed tonnes of litter from the area.
www.swlondoner.co.uk/news/0302202...

2. Win for Citizen Science

Lewes District Council has awarded Love Our Ouse a grant to support community water quality testing on the Glynde Reach tributary, enabling volunteers to monitor and investigate pollution issues.

The campaigners who inspired new Channel 4 show Dirty Business Ash Smith's campaign against pollution in Britain's waterways has been turned into a new Channel 4 series.

1. The campaigners behind Dirty Business

Last month, Channel 4 launched Dirty Business, inspired by campaigners Ash Smith and Peter Hammond, whose decade-long investigation into sewage pollution helped expose the true scale of the crisis.

@windrushwasp.bsky.social

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

From the riverbanks to the Houses of Parliament - here are community #RiverChampions in action! 💪

Check out some of the latest #CommunityNews, powered by people who care deeply about protecting their local rivers and waterways. 🔽 🧵.. 1/9.

Historic moment for Welsh beavers | North Wales Wildlife Trust The Wildlife Trusts in Wales and Beaver Trust warmly welcome new Welsh Government legislation recognising the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) as a native species and granting it protected status – a ma...

Great news! From today the Eurasian #beaver is a protected species & recognised as a native species in Wales! 💚

Thank you @huwirrancadaviesms.bsky.social & @joycewatson.org.uk, our Species Champion for Beavers, for helping this day to become a reality!
🎉 @beaverafanc.bsky.social

bit.ly/4uecbMa

Hello—Is a River Alive? is published in paperback in the UK today.
It’s dedicated to the rivers & their guardians.
Thanks to all who’ve supported its journey into the world: read it, talked about it, got in touch.
It’s @waterstones.bsky.social book of the month.
“Hope is the thing with rivers…”

Call me Mr Bastard, but might I suggest a prison sentence would be more of a deterrent than a fine the consumers will end up paying?

East Devon council recognises 'rights of rivers' to protect environment A bid to better protect a Devon district’s rivers has secured unanimous backing and made the council behind it at the forefront of such efforts.

Big news for East Devon’s rivers!💧

East Devon County Council has voted to recognise the rights of rivers - an important step towards treating rivers as living systems that deserve protection, not exploitation. 👇

#RescueOurRivers

www.exmouthjournal.co.uk/news/2589550...

After a decade as a de facto poop correspondent, it was great to see the sewage scandal brought together in Channel 4’s brilliant drama Dirty Business. Even if you think you know the story, watch it.

I’ve tried to sum up the whole malodorous affair here: watershedinvestigations.com/a-decade-ins...

🦋Spending time outdoors, especially in green spaces like gardens and parks, is well known to reduce stress and lift our mood. Now, research shows that blue spaces such as rivers and lakes can have an equally powerful impact on our wellbeing.🧵⬇️

Respond to the Sewage Sludge Consultation Make your voice heard with River Action's no-nonsense, question-by-question guidance for responding to the Government’s Sewage Sludge Consultation.

2/2. Your response can help make a real difference.

👉 Add your voice TODAY & call for stronger, modern safeguards.

Together, we can push for safer rules that protect our rivers, land and food.

kit.riveractionuk.com/river-rescue...

👉 YOUR VOICE MATTERS: Help end the toxic sewage sludge scandal!

💩 Toxic #SewageSludge is STILL spread on farmland in England under outdated rules.

The risks have been known for years. Solutions exist. Now the Government must decide whether to strengthen the rules… 🧵1/2 bit.ly/4aYbNZj

River of the Month - The River Ouse (Sussex) - River Action: River Rescue Kit Welcome to River of the Month! Every month, we spotlight [...]

February’s River of the Month: The River Ouse (Sussex)! 💙🌿

Dive into our latest blog, written by Matthew Bird from Love Our Ouse, to explore the story of the Ouse, the threats it faces, and how you can get involved with protecting this precious Sussex river. 👉 bit.ly/4tGQeF6

#LoveOurOuse

40+ organisations have joined #CleanWaterNow to demand urgent government action for nature and people.

Clean water can’t wait. ⚠️

The UK Government promised change. But the proposals aren’t enough. The plans MUST go further.

40+ organisations have joined #CleanWaterNow to demand urgent action for nature and people.

Join us. Email your MP today!

action.friendsoftheearth.uk/target/clean...

Clean water can’t wait.

The Government must take action now for nature and people.

River Action launches legal challenge, accusing NRW of “washing its hands” of intensive poultry pollution - River Action UK Environmental charity River Action has launched a judicial review challenging Natural Resources Wales (NRW)’ approval of three expanded poultry farms in Powys, accusing the regulator of “washing its h...

2/2. Natural Resources Wales approved the permits anyway, arguing that once manure leaves the farm gate, it’s outside their control.

That’s the heart of our legal challenge.

Because pollution doesn’t stop at the farm gate, and regulation can’t stop there either. 🔽
riveractionuk.com/news/river-a...

⚠️ This green water isn’t sewage pollution. But it’s just as deadly.

This is phosphate pollution - and it’s choking the Rivers Wye and Severn. ☠️

One major source? Industrial poultry units. 🐔💩.

Last year, around 200 local residents objected to the expansion of 3 poultry mega-farms in Powys.. 1/2🧵

Dirty Business review – if this doesn’t incite righteous anger over our filthy water then nothing will Based on the true story of amateur sleuths appalled at the dumping of sewage in our rivers, this drama starring David Thewlis is a blast of controlled fury – and could become the next Mr Bates vs the ...

Surely, even in these febrile times, not leaving a legacy of our rivers as a literal *hit show should be something we can all agree on. Dirty Business has landed and it couldn’t be more damning. Congratulations to Channel 4. Let’s make some noise @riveractionuk.bsky.social

Dirty Business review – if this doesn’t incite righteous anger over our filthy water then nothing will Based on the true story of amateur sleuths appalled at the dumping of sewage in our rivers, this drama starring David Thewlis is a blast of controlled fury – and could become the next Mr Bates vs the ...

Couldn’t have said it better ourselves. 📺 🙌

The first episode of Channel 4's Dirty Business is a hard-hitting, must-watch that will leave you feeling sick with anger.

Haven’t watched it yet? Catch up now on More4.

#DirtyBusiness #RescueBritainsRivers

www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

2/2. Based on a decade-long investigation, Dirty Business tells the real stories of whistleblowers Ash and Pete at
@windrushwasp.bsky.social & the communities whose lives have been devastated by the sewage pollution crisis.

Watch tonight. Get angry. Demand action.
www.channel4.com/press/news/c...

We’re watching #DirtyBusiness tonight at 9pm. Are you? 👀💧

To launch @channel4tv.bsky.social's explosive new factual drama, 4Creative has unveiled The Fountain of Filth on London’s South Bank - a bold installation forcing Britain’s #sewagescandal into the spotlight.. 🧵1/2

“This is not about blaming farmers - many are doing their best in very challenging circumstances. This is about how the regulatory system works, and whether it truly protects rivers like the Wye and the Severn.”

River Action launches a judicial review against Natural Resources Wales.👇