Bringing Rivers to You
Please note, Bringing Rivers to You took place in 2023 but there is still some useful long-term info on the page, including links to the Allis Shad book, so please take a look below.
Our rivers are so important to our lives and the biodiversity they support.
We want everyone to have the opportunity to connect to them, learn how special they are, and enjoy the experience of being in, on,
or near them.
That’s why this year, we are #BringingRivers2U through storytelling, citizen science, podcasts, our Rivers Roadshow and even a book launch to raise funds for our work.
Come and join us and discover more about your wonderful Westcountry waterways.
Watch our films below to discover more about how our Westcountry CSI project helps to connect people to their rivers and how our rivers bring so much to our lives.
Thank you for the 300+ surveys you returned during the World Rivers Day weekend as part of the
Big River Watch.
Find out more from The Rivers Trust at theriverstrust.org/take-action/the-big-river-watch – you can still take part too.
Bringing Rivers to You Roadshow
What’s on
We’re so excited to be bringing rivers to you across Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset this year.
You can see some of the photos from our Rivers Roadshow events opposite.
We’ve taken part in some fantastic events and it has been fabulous to chat with so many people who love their rivers and want to look after them.
How to Get Involved
If you love your local river, appreciate how vital it is to you in your life and share our passion
for keeping it healthy for you and your community, then there are many ways for you to get involved.
Whether it’s helping on a river clean-up day, becoming a citizen scientist, taking part in a fundraising activity, going on a river walk or simply making a donation.
Working together, we can help your river for many years to come.
News Updates
Stay up to date with the latest river developments, as well as Bringing Rivers to You campaign updates
Follow us on Social Media
Keep up with the latest #BringingRivers2U events and opportunities in a way that suits you
Hear from our friends too
We are supporting, and being supported by, numerous individuals, artists, grassroots groups and more to help keep #BringingRivers2U – find out more about them here in the coming months such as Katy who is ‘Going on Taw’, the community groups and events we are collaborating with and the Salmon Run on World Rivers Day.
See more from the Bridport Community Charter Fair
Allis The Shad Who Wouldn’t Give Up
A delightful children’s rhyming book helping to support our charity work
Natural England and author Angela Gall have published a new children’s book, released on World Ocean Day – 8 June 2023. They are kindly donating all proceeds from its sales to support our conservation work on the Tamar and other local rivers.
Allis the Shad Who Wouldn’t Give Up is a delightful rhyming story following the life journey of the rare and enigmatic Allis shad; from the tranquil River Tamar to the underwater wonders of Plymouth Sound and the sea beyond – and back again.
The book’s author Angela Gall is a Senior Marine Adviser with Natural England’s Devon, Cornwall, and Isles of Scilly Area Team. She has worked on the Tamar estuary for many years and has been longing to share the story of the iconic Allis shad. The intricate and colourful illustrations are by Sarah Gledhill, a UK based illustrator who has worked hard to accurately depict local scenes and an array of wildlife for children to spot.
Allis shad were once widespread and widely eaten but these days they are threatened throughout their range. They are known to breed in the Tamar, but nowhere else in England. The book aims to celebrate the species and its connection to the area, and to highlight the wealth of other wildlife found locally.
“Allis shad are a flagship species for Plymouth and the Tamar, I believe everyone in this area should feel a sense of pride in them and that, by helping this species we can help the whole ecosystem to recover” – Angela Gall, Author
All the ways you can take part:
Get Involved with Fundraising
Free
Watch out for some exciting fundraising activities we’ll be sharing throughout the year for you to get involved with
Westcountry CSI
Free
Become a citizen scientist and contribute to the resilience of your region’s rivers, their habitats and wildlife – now and for the future
River Explorers
Free
Sign up and help protect your local waterway by monitoring its biodiversity, pollution and sediment levels
Fish Pass
Free to Download
Enjoy spectacular fishing in unrivalled surroundings across Devon & Cornwall with this easy-to-use app
Listen to our Podcast
Free
Sustainable Clothing
From £17
Look good as you do good when you buy from our sustainable clothing and gift range