English rivers are more than just water flow; they are veins of our landscape, weaving through history, culture, and life itself. They support complex ecosystems and provide essential resources for communities and wildlife alike. However, these vital lifelines face ever-increasing threats, endangering their health and existence. Read the posts on how to prevent raw sewage and forever chemicals entering our rivers.
England is home to a rich network of rivers, which all flow into one of our seas. England’s longest river is the Severn (220 miles from Wales to just outside Bristol). The Thames is often thought of as a ‘London river’ but actually begins in The Cotswolds and flows through Oxford right out to the North Sea.
Rivers don’t just provide homes for wildlife and fish, but also provide us with fresh drinking water (through natural filters of ‘chalk streams’ for people and farmers). Chalk streams are quite rare (around 200 mostly in England, and a few in France). But litter, pollution and sewage are harming rivers and wildlife that call them home (swans, otters, endangered water voles and kingfishers).
Exploring Notable Rivers
The River Wye, a treasure trove of beauty, offers not only stunning vistas but a playground for outdoor enthusiasts. Meandering through the Wye Valley, it carves a picturesque path between England and Wales. With waters perfect for kayaking amidst lush green hills, and trails ideal for hikes, it’s no wonder the Wye draws those seeking nature’s embrace.
The River Wye was recently voted England’s favourite river. Rising in the mountains of Wales, it flows south for 150 miles to meet the River Severn, meandering through the Wye Valley (an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) from Hereford to Chepstow. Many local campaigners are working to protect the river, as pollution has decreased the quality of the water.
With a legacy that stretches back to Roman times, the River Trent has seen empires rise and fall. Its banks have witnessed more than the placid flow of water; they’ve been the backdrop for vital industrial growth and thriving wildlife habitats. Today, from otters to dragonflies, the area around the Trent teems with life, a testament to what can flourish alongside human progress.
The River Exe stands as a sanctuary in an increasingly busy world. Its waters grace Devon with a serene beauty and are a haven for wildlife lovers. From the headlands above, the views spread across green fields and the shimmering water below. It’s not just a place to look at—nature reserves and walking paths invite visitors to indulge in the tranquil surroundings.
Understanding the Threats to English Rivers
Pollution tarnishes the purity of our rivers. Among the worst culprits are agricultural runoff that carries pesticides and fertilizers into waterways. These chemicals degrade water quality and disrupt ecosystems. Plastic waste, which often finds its way into rivers, poses a different yet equally harmful threat, endangering wildlife and blocking natural flow. Industrial discharge adds another layer of pollution, bringing a mix of chemicals that disrupt river health.
Rivers aren’t immune to the growing threat of climate change. Rising temperatures can alter water levels, leading to either dangerous floods or worrying droughts. These changes affect the biodiversity of river habitats, putting plants and animals under stress. Warmer water holds less oxygen, one more pressure point for aquatic life.
English rivers are under siege from invasive species. Creatures such as the American signal crayfish (imported for restaurants) threaten native species and disrupt ecosystems. These invaders often have no natural predators, allowing them to thrive and outcompete native wildlife, creating a ripple effect through the ecosystem. Another example (like importing mink for fur) how greed for industry creates havoc.
Practical Ways to Protect Our Rivers
Reducing plastic is essential. Simple changes, like using reusable bags and avoiding single-use plastics, can prevent waste from reaching our rivers. Every small action ripples into larger impacts.
Direct involvement is powerful. Joining local river clean-ups can immediately improve the quality and beauty of river environments. These activities connect us to our rivers and foster a sense of responsibility.
Knowledge is empowering. Sharing information about river protection raises awareness and inspires others to take action. Organising workshops or school talks can spread the message far and wide.
Books to Learn More About Our Rivers
Still Waters and Wild Waves is a beautiful book to capture the waves that move us. It features over 50 original illustrations of dramatic seascapes and reflective rivers, alongside photography of stunning places that inspired the author’s artwork. A blue-green sketchbook sits at the edge of my studio desk. It is covered in decorative paper, and is now frayed and tattered. These marks are evidence of its travels – as far north as Shetland and as far south as Isles of Scilly. It has sat beside me on beaches and cliff tops, on small island planes and huge ferries, on trains and bicycles. Some of the pages are stained with Scottish rain and spilt coffees. This sketchbook holds scribbles and memories that tell the tales of still waters and wild waves. Angela Harding lives in England’s smallest county of Rutland, working from a studio at the bottom of her garden in a small village.
The Thames used to be so polluted, that Parliament would have to regularly close down due to the stench. Today it’s much cleaner. Life on the Thames is an illustrated journey along a river that sustains a staggering number of birds, mammals and other creatures.
The Flow is a a writer’s journey along the rivers of England, taken after her beloved friend Kate set out with others to kayak the River Rawthey (Cumbria). But she never returned, and her death left her family and friends unmoored. From West Country torrents to Levels and Fens, from rocky Welsh canyons to the salmon highways of Scotland – through to the chalk rivers of the Yorkshire Wolds, Amy-Jane follows springs, streams and rivers to explore tributary themes of wildness and wonder, loss and healing, mythology and history.
Walking the Wharfe is by local boy Johno Ellison, who returns from living abroad to walk the entire length of the waterway where he grew up. Retracing the steps of Victorian writer Edmund Bogg, he begins in the Vale of York, walking upstream to find Victorian spa towns and rare red kites that have returned, thanks to conservation initiatives. He is seduced into wild swimming a chilly river (not the section notorious for reportedly drowning everyone who has ever tumbled into it). And seeks refuge in a candlelit pub, during a power blackout).
