WRT’s Dan Osmond. Image credit Sam Jones
What do you get when you mix running shoes, colourful costumes, salmon stories, and a whole lot of community spirit? The Salmon Run!
From the early morning on Exmouth beach to dusk in Dulverton, the day was a moving tribute (literally!) to the Atlantic salmon’s epic migration from sea to spawning grounds. A symbolic salmon was passed hand to hand along the relay, while back at Exmouth’s Sideshore eco-hub, The Gathering, filled the morning with creative workshops, music, talks, and games.
And of course, some of the Westcountry Rivers Trust team had to get stuck in. James and Annabel from our Land Team powered through their 7km relay from Bickleigh to Tiverton, while Dan from our Fisheries Team took on the ultimate test: the full 44-mile ultra marathon. Calm, composed, and almost swimming through the miles, Dan embodied the spirit of the salmon as he traced their path upriver from the coast to Exmoor. He crossed the finish line with salmon-like grace and celebrated with a very well-earned drink!
“I felt really proud to take part in the Salmon Run 2025. It was a great community event and a chance to meet people who also care deeply about this iconic species.” Annabel, Head of Land Management
But the Salmon Run was about more than testing out the running shoes. It shone a light on the salmon’s story: a living thread in our rivers and culture, now at risk of being lost forever. Weirs, pollution, habitat loss, and climate change are all driving their decline. That’s why Dan is fundraising to support the habitat improvement works we’re undertaking on the River Exe through the Strategic Exe Weirs project, from riparian tree planting to fish passage improvement works and river restoration, giving salmon the chance to thrive again.
“Running the salmon run gave a new appreciation for the challenges that these remarkable fish face: both physiologically, through the wear and tear of running 44 miles through the wind and rain, but also in taking in the landscape of the Exe catchment footstep by footstep, seeing the changes in land use and barriers to migration along the route. It was great to see so many people in communities by the river connecting with the story of Atlantic salmon and what we can do to restore rivers for these endangered fish.” Dan, Senior Fisheries Scientist
You can support Dan’s incredible effort and our habitat improvement work on the River Exe here.
WRT’s Dan Osmond. Images credit Sam Jones
The event couldn’t have happened without the organisation, commitment, and enthusiasm of the Exe Tidelines team, and the generous funding from the Devon Environment Investment Fund.
As our colleague Tom, SEW Project Officer and Salmon Run supporter, put it: “Salmon Run is an incredible way of engaging an audience that is usually detached from salmon and rivers… a beautiful amalgamation of art, science and running.”
So, we want to say a huge thank you to everyone involved, those who took part, donated, or helped spread the word, helping to celebrate and protect these remarkable species.
See you at Salmon Run 2026!
🎧 Want to dive deeper? Listen to the podcast to hear how human bodies and Atlantic salmon move through and sense our shared (and different) worlds.