Making Space for Water campaign letter hand delivered to Number 10 Downing Street
On the 15th October, representatives from the Riverscapes Partnership, supporting MPs, river ambassadors and champions, hand delivered a letter advocating for the Making Space for Water campaign to the Prime Minister at Number 10, calling on the Government to support the creation of nationwide river corridors.
17/10/25
On Wednesday 15th October, representatives from the Riverscapes Partnership, made up of The Rivers Trust, National Trust, the Woodland Trust, and Beaver Trust, gathered outside Number 10 Downing Street to deliver an important message to Westminster: it is time to restore our river corridors.
Signed by 25 cross-party MPs and supported by campaigners and ambassadors, the group hand-delivered a letter advocating for the Making Space for Water campaign, urging the Government to back the creation of nationwide river corridors. The letter outlined two key asks:
- A public commitment from the Government to create a network of connected and multi-functional river corridors – including the use of nature-based solutions like river buffers, riparian tree planting and wetland initiatives.
- As farmers and landowners are at the heart of this mission, the campaign also asks for simplified, targeted incentives to restore and enhance these areas by supporting river buffers, wetlands and tree planning as part of a sustainable farming future.
The Making Space for Water campaign aims to create a connected, nature-rich network of river corridors by expanding and scaling up these methods across the country. At its core, it is about using nature to build greater resilience into our landscapes, slowing the flow of water during floods, storing it during droughts, and filtering out pollution. These changes bring benefits not only for wildlife and the environment, but also for people, communities and the wider economy.
The letter was signed by 23 MPs, with Lloyd Hatton, Labour MP for South Dorset, and Julia Buckley, Labour MP for Shrewsbury, taking part in its delivery. The campaign is backed by more than 40 organisations, including The Wildlife Trusts, WWF, the Nature Friendly Farming Network, CPRE, UK Youth for Nature and River Action and continues to receive support from a wide array of river champions, including chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, who said:
“Our rivers are broken – choked, polluted, and confined. Making Space for Water means giving our rivers room to breathe and work naturally again – restoring wetlands, planting trees to strengthen and enhance river habitats, and creating thriving river corridors that work for nature, farmers and communities alike. The Government must back this vision with real commitment for a nature-rich river corridor network, and provide clear incentives to make it simple for farmers and landowners to be part of that change.”
You can play a part in the Making Space for Water campaign by adding your name to the gov.uk petition. It calls for stronger support and easier access to funding for farmers and landowners working to restore and protect our rivers. Once the petition reaches 10,000 signatures, the Government will be required to respond, so every signature helps us get one step closer to making space for water.
Sign the petition
Add your name to support the Making Space for Water campaign. Help us reach 10,000 signatures so the Government is required to respond.