Responding to the King’s Speech, CEO of River Action James Wallace said, “After numerous briefings that the Government were planning to press ahead with ditching river protections, we welcome the absence of a return to the ridiculous idea that we can’t have home building and healthy rivers.
“However, what we have seen today is further evidence that this Government is hardly a trailblazer for nature and the environment. Backing the expansion of North Sea oil and gas exploration is an embarrassing backward step for our nation in the middle of a climate and nature emergency.
“Yet how hypocritical that the Government says it will continue to lead action on tackling climate change and biodiversity loss by support developing countries with their energy of transition; and holding other countries to their environmental commitments. What about here at home?
“Where’s the detail on the Environment Land Management Scheme which post Brexit promised to help farmers look after the land and rivers? Where are the commitments to make water companies stop illegal discharges of sewage, and fix their leaking pipes?
“Meanwhile, the environmental regulators, the Environment Agency and Ofwat are toothless and starved of funds, unable to carry out wide-scale inspections or to prosecute polluters.
“The Government is today signalling that it would rather back polluting industries than look after our environment. Healthy rivers and secure supplies of drinking water and food are not optional. They are the foundation of our economy and society.”
A cocktail of pollutants will freely enter the UK’s rivers because of Storm Ciarán, heaping more misery on our ecologically degraded rivers, warns River Action.
In response to the nationwide river emergency, River Action is calling for more investment in environment regulators to clamp down on river polluters.
CEO of River Action James Wallace says that the last decade and a half has seen a systemic collapse in environmental protection with regulatory agencies defunded and regulations designed to protect rivers from pollution deliberately not enforced.
“The government has cut 70% of the environmental protection budgets of the Environmental Agency over the last decade and a half. This has allowed the water companies and intensive agriculture sector, supplying large supermarket chains, to pollute with impunity for profit over the environment.
“It is critical that the Government enforces the existing regulations that are in place to mitigate heavy rain polluting our rivers. This is now more urgent than ever because of climate change leading to more extreme weather events.”
Mr Wallace adds, “There is an understandable focus on protecting lives and property at risk from storms such as Ciarán. However, these increasingly frequent extreme situations will also place huge environmental stress on our fragile river ecosystems, given the huge volumes of sewage discharge and agricultural run-off that will ensue.”
Charters for Rivers – restoring the health of the UK’s rivers by 2023 River Action’s Charter for Rivers sets out what political parties must do now to restore our rivers to health by 2030. Learn about the Charter here.
For interviews call Ian Woolverton on 07377 547 362
We are thrilled to welcome Ian Woolverton as our Senior Media Coordinator at River Action! In our latest blog, we get to know more about Ian and the role that he will play to help rescue Britain’s rivers.
Tell us about yourself?
I grew up poor in the seventies and eighties in the Midlands. It was a time of racial tension, mass unemployment, the miner’s strikes and so on. But it was also a time of great social change, Ska music, black players, for the first time, in the local football teams, West Bromwich Albion especially (for the record, I am a life-long Wolves supporter!). Despite the poverty, I loved Wolverhampton. I had mates from all sorts of backgrounds – Hindus, Sikhs. It was ace.
My nan, who helped raise me and worked as a cleaner at the Wolverhampton branch of the NatWest set something off in me about social justice, fighting for fairness and a more progressive society.
It was an insalubrious childhood, but I am indebted to my wonderful grandmother who put me on the right path; we’d sit in her kitchen, watching the evening news discussing how the world could be fairer, kinder. Our conversation would often centre on politics, fighting injustice, look out for the vulnerable. Then we’d giggle at Blankety Blank and Are you Being Served?
My nan was a wise, kind, and loving woman. She had the single most important influence on me growing up.
I was a terrible student. Always gazing wistfully out of the window. I liked English but I drifted; that is until I was asked at college to write a piece of journalism about the fall of the Berlin Wall. I loved writing it, but my German teacher convinced herself it was plagiarism. She scoured newspapers for the article I had allegedly pinched! That was the light bulb moment for me, writing, journalism.
I pursued it and as a result I have carved out a terrific career in media relations for social justice causes. I started at Shelter in the nineties, where some of my mates from that time are now MPs.
Then, almost on a whim, I emigrated to Australia and kicked off a 22-year career in the humanitarian sector. This led to me covering most of the major crises of the last two decades; from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami to the genocide in Darfur, the violence perpetrated against the Rohingya people and much, much more beside. For two decades I travelled the world with my work. It was an incredible privilege, and I met many fantastic people from a plethora of cultures and communities. I loved it. The lad from Wolves seeing the world!
I’ve always enjoyed writing, but my first love is photography. You can view my work here.
What first sparked your interest in river protection?
As a child raised in urban poverty in the Black Country, finding nature was revolutionary in my life.
Today, as a keen nature lover living on the edge of the Lake District National Park, I have witnessed the appalling damage done to places like Lake Windermere, now contaminated with human poo, agricultural pesticides, and fertilisers.
If we allow the wilful destruction of England’s most famous lake, what hope for our rivers? As the climate crisis becomes more urgent, more present in our lives, it demands that we protect our rivers; and the species and fragile eco-systems that rely on them for existence. Covid has reminded us just how important access to green space and nature is; more than ever River Action represents our needs and our rights in this regard, facilitating our relationship with and sense of belonging to the landscapes and rivers of Britain.
You have over 20 years of experience leading media comms in the humanitarian sector – including for NGOs, Red Cross, and WHO. What have been the biggest challenges that you have faced in these roles and what have been your biggest achievements thus far?
It is an exhilarating sector to work in with so much going on all the time. I would say that the biggest challenges come from working cross-culturally but that also comes with massive reward too. You are never ‘off the clock’, so it can be exhausting. There is always a humanitarian story breaking somewhere in the world.
Mentally it is very taxing work. I was dealing with a lot of death and destruction. It takes a toll seeing, over and over, just how horrible humankind can be to itself. Then again, you get to see the very best of people in extremely challenging environments; you end up realising that compassion and kindness outweigh the cruelty. I look back on the career I had in the humanitarian sector and sometimes I’m amazed I managed to do it for so long.
Don’t get wrong me, it was a humbling experience to have witnessed many of the most devastating humanitarian crises of the last two decades. I got to report on them, work with the world’s media, draw attention to terrible humanitarian suffering; and hopefully do it in a way that empowered people whose story I was helping to tell.
I did witness lots of horrible stuff too, so you need to manage your mental health very well in that world.
A personal high point for me was the award of the Australian Government’s Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal. It is an official award in the Australia’s honours system. Handing that medal over to my nan and seeing her beam; golden cherished moment.
Tell us about your role as River Action’s Senior Media Coordinator. What can we expect to see from your role in the coming months?
In terms of my role with River Action. Blimey, where do I start? I have joined at a very exciting time. It’s only mid-February and already we’ve generated hundreds and
hundreds of high-profile media stories this year so far. Suddenly, at least it seems to me, the nation is alive to the risk pollution poses to our rivers.
The nation is rightly angry and wants more done to protect them. We’ve got a bunch of exciting campaigns up this year, and I hope to play my part by working with the media to fight for the health of the nation’s rivers.
I am particularly interested in how we can broaden our reach and involve people from less privileged backgrounds, or under-represented backgrounds; people like me who grew up in places that are not top of mind for rivers. How do we reach out to people on council estates, perhaps living in high rise towers? They have just as much as right to benefit from a healthy river as someone who is fortunate to live nearby one.
And finally, In your opinion, what needs to change in order to rescue Britain’s rivers?
That is easy. The enforcement of existing environmental laws designed to protect to our rivers. We’ve got some great laws in this country that, if enforced, would do a lot of good for our rivers; and send a powerful message to polluters that we are coming for you.
Remember, 2024 is most likely a general election year. Therefore, if you care about river health, help us hold the water companies and industrial-scale agricultural polluters accountable; as well as kicking the regulators – Ofwat, DEFRA the Environment Agency – up the jacksie to demand they do the job they are paid to do; enforce the law to protect our rivers.
We are delighted to welcome Chloe Peck as our new Communities Coordinator to the River Action team. In our latest blog, we get to know more about Chloe and the role that she will play to help rescue Britain’s rivers
Q1. Tell us about yourself
My name’s Chloe. I’m a nature lover, an avid walker, a not-so-great yogi, a slightly chaotic chef, a passionate tea drinker, and now I’m thrilled to be the new communities coordinator!
After living and working in Manchester for several years, I have recently moved to London. Although I am currently city bound, my heart belongs to the countryside, and cherish the opportunity to explore the great outdoors, often in my tiny van.
Q2. How did you become interested in river protection
My deep connection with rivers dates back to my childhood, when I spent long glorious days exploring the banks of the river Frome whilst my dad patiently fished for trout. That’s where my love for being in and around water was born. Today, it’s all about wild swimming, and I’ve been known to drive for hours to plunge into freezing cold water.
While working in Manchester, I had the privilege of being part of the Love Your River Irk project. This initiative united communities to explore and restore the River Irk. I conducted workshops on invasive species impacting our ecosystem, the species of invertebrates in the river, and how to identify various plants along the river banks.
The most important lesson I learnt during this project was how vital it is for local communities to feel connected to their local environment, motivating them to protect it.
Q3. You have a wealth of experience working in community engagement for a variety of projects. What have you enjoyed most about this kind of work and what have been its biggest challenges?
Community engagement has brought so much joy to my life and I love feeling embedded in a group of passionate people. I’ve been a youth worker in inner-city Manchester, I’ve trained young women at a community radio station, I’ve led groups of volunteers to plant trees, and I’ve run English classes for migrants, each connection I’ve made has been meaningful.
The challenge that we face is a sense of powerlessness. It is increasingly difficult to feel connected to each other and the environment we are in, making it challenging to take ownership of the world around us. The best approach someone working in community engagement can do is to support and empower others to see that together we are strong and can make a difference.
Q4. Tell us about your new role as Communications Coordinator at River Action. What can we expect to see from your role in 2023/4?
I am genuinely excited about my role as communities coordinator. Over the next few months I will be developing and publishing the River Rescue Kit. This kit will serve as a valuable resource for everyone interested in guidance to campaign for cleaner rivers; from well-established groups to individuals who want guidance on where to start. It will include information on setting up as a group, participating in citizen science, gaining media interest, understanding your legal rights, and raising funds. We will also include a map that will help connect different river groups to one another.
Further to this, I’m looking forward to getting to know the remarkable communities we have already worked with, such as the Henley Mermaids, the Henley & Marlow River Action group and the Welsh Rivers Union. Alongside our continuous support for these groups, I am eager to connect with new groups across the country.
Q5. In your opinion, what is further needed/what needs to change in order to rescue Britain’s rivers?
Last year saw increased awareness and support for cleaning up Britain’s rivers. The scale of the crisis is daunting, but we all possess the means to drive change. Rivers need to be at the centre of our individual decision making processes, and this will have a knock on effect on politics and industry. Through people taking individual action, joining a group, and coming together as a network, we can support each other, gain insight from one another, and amplify our voices to make a real difference.
High Court grants consent for River Action to pursue Judicial Review over Environment Agency’s failure to protect River Wye from agricultural pollution.
Following a hearing held at the High Court in Cardiff on Thursday 19 October, River Action has been granted consent to pursue its legal challenge against the Environment Agency (EA) over its failure to protect the River Wye from pollution.
In its case for judicial review of the Environment Agency’s enforcement of regulations, River Action has argued that by failing to prevent the spread of excessive levels of manure across agricultural land in the Wye River catchment, the EA has acted unlawfully by not enforcing the Farming Rules for Water.
River Action claims that had these critical environmental regulations been fully enforced by the EA, then the substantial increase in levels of phosphorus in the soil across the catchment (a major cause of the river’s algal blooms) could have been substantially mitigated. The persistence of these algal blooms in recent years is one of the major causes of the severe ecological collapse of the river, much of which is designated a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
A study by Lancaster University published in May 2022 found that the soils of the Wye are now significantly over-saturated with phosphorus (P), with 60-70% of the 3,000 tonnes of which enter the river every year coming from agriculture. The most significant contributor to this is widely known to be the rapid recent growth of the region’s intensive poultry industry.
River Action believe that this environmental crisis could have been seriously mitigated had theEA enforced existing environmental regulations.
Commenting, River Action’s Chairman and Founder Charles Watson said:
“We are delighted that we have now finally been granted permission to go to court, where we will vigorously make the case that a prime cause for the recent ecological collapse of theRiver Wye is the EA’s decision to slavishly follow DEFRA’s guidance to not enforce critical provisions of the 2018 Farming Rules for Water. These critically important regulations state that fertilisers and manures must not be spread on soils already over-saturated with excess nutrients. Tragically, due to the uncontrolled growth of what we believe to be the largest concentration of intensive poultry production in Europe, this is exactly what has been allowed to happen, with the horrific environmental consequences for the River Wye being all too plain to see”.
River Action is represented by Leigh Day environment team solicitor Ricardo Gama.
We are delighted to welcome Katy Shorten as our Senior Development Coordinator to the River Action team. In our latest blog, we get to know more about Katy and the role that she will play to help rescue Britain’s rivers.
Q1. Tell us about yourself
Hello!
I grew up in Cornwall, and after spending time living in other areas of the country, am pleased to have returned ‘home’. I have always loved being out in nature, especially in water and in any weather, and so I feel lucky to live where there is such an abundance of it. I have three brothers, and seven nieces and nephews, so there is usually something interesting to take part in, and get out and about. I started learning to play the flute and read music as an adult in my 30s, so get a mixture of happiness, frustration and peace from that, depending on my mood 🙂
Q2. How did you become interested in river protection?
Just before the COVID pandemic I moved to Oxfordshire, and was starting a new life without knowing many people. During that time, and afterwards, the river became a real joy and salvation for me. I mostly walked, swam and canoed along the Thames, and developed an affinity for it and all it offers. Since moving back to Cornwall I have a deeper appreciation for the Tamar, which I now feel I took for granted growing up! I’ve started Cornish Gig Rowing and have met some wonderful people who equally share my passion. I find what is happening to our rivers distressing, and avoidable. I was drawn to River Action’s work to mobilise local communities, the public, Government, and industry to find solutions together, and believe we can make a difference.
Q3. You have over 20 years of experience working in social care and homelessness.What have you enjoyed most about this kind of work and what have been its biggest challenges?
My time working in the homelessness and social care sectors has formed a strong value system in me, grounded in compassion, understanding, acceptance and hope. To have been witness to the experiences and situations of the most excluded people living in our society today is humbling. I hope to have played a small part in helping some people to lead the lives they want and aspire to, despite the challenges they face. I remain in awe and admiration of the people living and working across homelessness and social care systems, pulling together and absolutely doing their best with limited resources. So, I guess on a personal level what I have enjoyed the most is the partnerships and collaboration with amazing people, and the biggest challenge was not feeling able to do ‘enough’!
Q4. Tell us about your new role as Senior Development Coordinator at River Action...what can we expect to see from your role in 2023/4?
I’m really excited to be starting at River Action when there is so much focus and momentum behind the movement. My role at River Action will be to help ensure; our strategy stays up to date and relevant, we continue to understand the impact we are making so that we remain agile and responsive to where we can make the biggest difference, and that we have the funds available to keep supporting local communities to rescue their rivers.
Q5. In your opinion, what is further needed/what needs to change in order to rescue Britain’s rivers?
The health of our environment and our rivers is directly related to the health of us as individuals, communities and broader humanity. Without healthy rivers our food and water supply is being affected, not to mention limiting the wellbeing effects of being out in nature and something bigger than ourselves. For me placing the natural environment and the health of our rivers front and centre of all decision making feels like the biggest change we could make. In order to this we need information and evidence out there in the public domain, and a groundswell of public opinion to support effective decisions and action – whether that is macro decisions the Government takes on how it spends our taxes, how industry decides to invest in natural solutions to waste and pollution, or individual consumer choices. River Action’s approach to doing this by blending support for ‘bottom up’ individual and community activity with a ‘top down’ call to action for Government and industry, will mean our rivers become a priority consideration behind all decision making.
The Blue Earth Summit returned to Bristol for its third year in October, bringing together a community of business professionals looking to make a positive impact and affect change at their place of work.
This year, we saw River Action’s founder and Chairman, Charles Watson, take to the centre stage to interview United Utilities’ new CEO, Lou Beardmore, about the horrific pollution issues caused by the UK’s water industry and what she believes are the solutions to clean Britain’s waterways.
On Thursday 28th September, more than 40 of the UK’s conservation organisations came together to protest at the Government’s failure to address the deepening crisis in nature, laid bare in the devastating State of Nature Report.
Organised by wildlife TV presenter and conservationist Chris Packham, the demonstrations saw the UK’s leading conservation and wildlife charities, scientists, ecologists and wildlife experts unite in protest outside DEFRA offices to demand the UK Government to take more action for nature.
The newly-formed ‘Restore Nature Now’ movement states: “We are birdwatchers, ramblers, ecologists, pond dippers, river-swimmers, ramblers, no-mow-mayers, anglers, scientists, butterfly counters, spring-watchers, gardeners, rewilders, conservationists. We are ordinary people taking action in extraordinary times”.
Chris Packham said:
“This is beyond an ‘Attack on Nature’ in the UK. Our wildlife is being annihilated. Our wild places and wildlife are not ‘dying’- they are being killed. Those responsible for killing nature are getting away with it. Those responsible for protecting nature are failing. We are taking our demand ‘Restore Nature Now’ direct to the government department decision-makers responsible for failing nature in this country.”
River Action’s CEO, James Wallace, said:
“Our river ecosystems are on the brink of collapse, polluted by sewage, manure, chemicals and plastics. On the current trajectory, only 4% will be in good ecological condition by 2027, missing our pre Brexit targets of 100%. Globally rare chalk streams are smothered in algal sludge, preventing rare species like brown trout from reproducing. Rivers like the Wye have turned into filthy ditches for factory farms, while the wildlife in the River Thames is snuffed out by sewage.
“The dreadful state of the UK’s nature is an international disgrace and an existential risk to our economy. Without hedgerow habitats we have no insects. Without pollinators we have no food. Without healthy rivers we have no drinking water. And without water we have no industry, shops or hospitals. With the next election looming, we implore all parties and voters to back policies that will Restore Nature Now!”
On September 21st, we visited No.10 with Team Water UK to hand over the ‘Rescue our Rivers’ petition to parliament.
With over 106,000 of your signatures, we are sending a very clear message: – the public will be putting water quality as a TOP voting issue ahead of the election.
A huge thank you to all who signed, shared and supported our petition, calling for all political parties to save our rivers and waterways before it’s too late.
River Action’s CEO, James Wallace, outside No.10 Downing Street with the ‘Rescue our Rivers’ petition.
Between 12 – 21 September 2023, Tim Wakefield and Ben Covey swam, paddled and rowed 227km of the River Thames to raise awareness of the plight of our waterways and carry the Rescue Our Rivers petition to No.10 Downing Street.
Between the 12th and 21st of September, local community groups, supporters and campaigners will be joining us along the River Thames to demand action from the government and all political leaders to urgently address river pollution.
To raise awareness of the high levels of pollution in UK rivers, we will be cheering on Tim Wakefield and Ben Covey, who are taking to the River Thames for ten days of swimming, rowing and stand up paddle boarding (SUP). On their expedition, Tim and Ben will help raise awareness of the plight of our waterways and promote the hand-in of our ‘Rescue our Rivers’ petition to Parliament.
The end of the expedition coincides with the ‘hand in’ of our petition, signed by almost 90,000 people, backing the Charter for Rivers that calls up on political leaders to protect and restore our rivers by 2030.
How to get involved
We would love to get as many people involved as possible and we’re really looking forward to sharing Tim and Ben’s journey. Do follow @teamwateruk for updates on when and where you can join them on the river each day. Dates include:
If you have any questions about how you can get involved, please email our Campaigns Coordinator, Harri Rose, at harri@riveractionuk.com. We hope to see many of you there soon!
About Ben Covey
From an early age Ben has been drawn to the water and has loved exploring our coasts and rivers. As a family now living in landlocked Berkshire, the River Thames is his go to destination for a water fix. Paddleboarding, swimming, and occasionally boating too. His wife grew up on the north coast of Cornwall and he heads down there whenever he can. There the weather and tides shape the holidays, dictating the activity for the day: kitesurfing a firm favorite when it’s windy and paddleboarding & swimming when the sea is calm. When Ben and Tim decided to journey down the Thames they wanted to partner with a charity that are dedicated to raising awareness of the disastrous impact that pollution is having on our rivers and River Action UK’s Rescue our Rivers campaign was a perfect match. Ben has a strong track record in taking on challenges to raise awareness and funds for important causes. He has cycled from John O Groats to Lands End, walked the 4 Peaks, was a member of the team that holds the Guinness World Record for the most kitesurfers in a mile and with Tim crossed the English Channel by paddleboard to raise money for the RNLI. On the Thames he has completed the Great River Race three times. He hopes that the Thames Pollution Awareness Expedition will take him to parts of the river he has not yet explored whilst making a difference to the future health of our rivers.
About Tim Wakefield
Tim has lived within a stone’s throw of the River Thames all his life. His first memories are feeding the ducks in the river by Richmond Bridge and since then he has learned to sail on the river, enjoyed swimming in the upper reaches, once successfully eskimo rolled a canoe near Westminster, tried on many occasions to beat the world record for stone skimming, loved racing up and down the river in summer rowing regattas, tried repeatedly and unsuccessfully to catch fish, jumped into the river off bridges and rope swings and most recently spent many happy hours SUPping with the swans. He is currently a member of Goring Thames Sailing Club. Like Ben, Tim has been involved in a number of expeditions to raise awareness and funds for important causes, including swimming across the Solent in support of Kingston Hospital, SUPping across the Channel in support of the RNLI and skiing up mountains with the Everest in the Alps team in support of the Brain Tumour charity.
