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248 news articles

Man in red coat testing water

The Rivers Trust Annual Conference 2026: Grounded in Data

  • Jack Hatcher
The 2026 Rivers Trust Annual Conference held our biggest audience ever and highlighted the importance of effective data-led delivery. Catch up on the full event below.

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Man and woman stood on stone bridge overlooking river

Big River Watch: 2026 Spring Survey Results

  • Matthew Woodard
Last month, thousands of people across the UK and Ireland spent time by a river and took part in our 2026 Spring Big River Watch. Explore the data and insights captured during this fantastic week of citizen science in our latest report.

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Group of five people, four men and one woman stood in suits in front of a river holding signs reading FLOW.

‘FLOW’ Water Quality Project Officially Launched

  • The Rivers Trust
An important new cross-border initiative aimed at improving water quality and catchment management in the Erne catchment area of the Central Border Region has been officially launched, called the FLOW (For the Love of Our Waters) Project.

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Building Community Action and Awareness Around Water in Northern Ireland

  • The Rivers Trust
Mark Horton, The Rivers Trust All-Ireland Director and CEO of Ballinderry Rivers Trust, shares his reflections on how communities across Northern Ireland are playing an important role in caring for their vital waterways.

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Hand holding mobile phone displaying Big River Watch app with river in background

The Big River Watch returns as public concern over river health reaches new heights

  • Jack Hatcher
People across the UK and Ireland urged to become citizen scientists and gather data on river health as part of the Big River Watch from 24 – 30 April 2026. 

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A smiling woman stands on the banks of the Thames, looking into the distance

The London Mudlark, Lara Maiklem, joins The Rivers Trust as its latest ambassador

  • Jack Hatcher
Lara Maiklem joins a growing group of passionate river advocates in support of The Rivers Trust’s vision for wild, healthy, natural rivers, valued by all. Read on to learn about Lara’s passion for the River Thames.

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Disgusting brown water pours out of a meal pipe into a river

Reduction in sewage discharges must not be misidentified as progress — an in depth look at the 2025 annual spill data

  • The Rivers Trust
Just 79 overflows saw regulation-led improvements in 2025. That’s just 0.5% of all overflows in England.

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A smiling man holds up a fish by the bank of a river in sunlight

Author and Broadcaster Will Millard joins The Rivers Trust as new ambassador

  • Jack Hatcher
Our Rivers Trust Ambassadors are people who are just as passionate about rivers as we are and Will Millard couldn’t fit the bill more! Read on to learn about Will’s passion and dedication towards our goal of wild, healthy, natural rivers, valued by all.

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Pipe discharging sewage

Sewage Discharges: England and Wales’ 2025 Annual Summary Data released

  • The Rivers Trust
  • News
Even in a significantly dry year, water companies still discharged untreated sewage into rivers, lakes and seas almost 400,000 times in 2025, for over two and a half million hours — spelling continued disaster for our waterways.

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Man stood up holding flare on boat pulling into harbour

World’s Toughest Row: Jake reflects on the memorable moments and surprising challenges of his journey — and why it was all worth doing

  • Jack Hatcher
What was it really like rowing 3000 miles across open ocean? From the diet of biscuits and sweets, to the sea life he encountered along the way, Jake reveals all about his incredible effort to raise funds for vital river restoration work.

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