Can healthy rivers exist without healthy wetlands? 🌱🌊 Wetlands are among the UK’s most powerful natural allies in supporting healthy rivers. They’re under threat, but restoration IS possible. This #WorldWetlandsDay, be part of the change.🌍 👉 visit wwt.org.uk

There is huge local effort in North Herefordshire to tackle agricultural pollution in the Wye & Lugg - but we need proper government support for the solutions local people want: farmer-led landscape recovery projects; more funding and teeth for the EA, and a WPZ for the Wye.

Policy must be based on evidence to be effective – so why, given agricultural pollution makes up 40% of the pollution in our waterways, did the government’s Water White Paper dedicate only a single page to addressing it?

Together with cross-party MPs in the River Wye catchment, I wrote to the Minister for Water and Flooding to request a meeting to discuss how we can make progress in restoring the Wye and tackling flooding. We cannot stand by whilst the Wye continues to decline.

Excellent letter from three of our Wye MPs! Look forward to the Minister’s response

BREAKING! Wow. Citizen scientists across the Wye catchment have now taken over 50,000 samples and tested them for water quality. What a phenomenal show of people power. Read all about it: friendsoftheriverwye.org.uk/news/wye-cit...

🚨Government water reforms do not go far enough.🚨 The Water White Paper finally admits the scale of the freshwater emergency - but it still falls short of the urgent, radical action our rivers desperately need... READ MORE: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

⚠️The River Wye, one of the UK’s most iconic and protected rivers, is on the brink of ecological collapse. We need action NOW. The Govt must ensure the upcoming White Paper tackles agri-pollution at its source and delivers real protection for the Wye, before it's too late. @savethewye.bsky.social

2/2. Ministers must now act decisively. With the Government due to publish its long-awaited report on reforming the water sector, we will be watching closely to see whether they deliver the measures needed to #rescuebritainsrivers & end pollution for profit. ❌ 💷 💩 www.theoep.org.uk/news/oep-con...

🚨 BREAKING: Today, the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) confirmed possible failures by DEFRA and the Environment Agency to comply with the laws meant to protect our rivers, lakes, and seas.. 1/2 🧵

⚠️ TOXIC SLUDGE: what’s really being spread on UK farmland Millions of tonnes of “fertiliser” made from sewage sludge are spread on UK fields every year. This #toxicsludge can contain microplastics & “forever chemicals”, contaminating soil & polluting rivers. 1/2🧵 www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...

The meat and soy industry is unleashing a wave of deforestation on the Amazon rainforest by sabotaging its own success. Companies like McDonald’s, Carrefour, Tesco and Sainsbury’s that rely on the Amazon Soy Moratorium need to fight for it.

We need a Water Protection Zone for the River Wye. The regulators have failed to produce a plan which will rescue the river. We believe the river needs urgent attention – the equivalent of special measures 👇 www.herefordtimes.com/news/2572518...

Eulogy for the Dead Sea and two shorts ‘This is the River Wye’ and ‘Rise and Fall’. This is a free film event funded by #UKSP but please book at: www.ticketsource.co.uk/llanwarne-vi... Llanwarne Village Hall, Herefordshire, HR2 8JE. Saturday 10th January 7:30PM.

If we are to truly grasp the nettle on the issue of agricultural pollution in the Wye, we need a Water Protection Zone - I pressed the government to meet with me and other local MPs to discuss how we can progress implementation of this.

EA has unveiled long-awaited Diffuse Water Pollution Plan for River Wye SAC - this will fail to rescue the river. Louise Bodnar, Voice of the River Wye, “This is a Death Warrant for the Wye, it’s sickening that those with power to help the river choose not to.” www.herefordtimes.com/news/2570358...

Do you remember the River Wye blooming with white flowers? Can you dig out your old photos of water crowfoot? Please join our Big Ranunculus Watch!

The revival of the Klamath River & its watershed over the past 14 months—after the completion of the biggest dam-removal project in US history—is one the most hopeful stories I know in our hope-stripped age. Magnificent @bengoldfarb.bsky.social essay on it here. emergencemagazine.org/essay/a-rive...

"Just as water companies are rightly on the hook for dumping sewage, big agribusinesses should be forced to clean up their act." @philip-ciwf.bsky.social calls on the Government to hold major polluters to account. Read his article in the @scotsman.com. ⬇️

A key chicken supplier to Tesco, Nando’s and McDonald’s extracted more water than it should for meat processing purposes – prompting concerns about water shortages in parts of the UK

Avara Foods, one of the UK’s biggest chicken processing companies, is no stranger to controversy – it’s already getting sued over its alleged role in polluting the River Wye The company says the case is based on a misunderstanding Read more 👇

Our latest newsletter is out! Featuring some key developments on the River Wye, our meeting with MPs, art by Jim Murray, a Clean Water Bill for Wales and more! mailchi.mp/4dfa77402993...

We are delighted that the first steps to the Rights of The River Wye Charter took place this week - our sincere congratulations to Hereford Council for this bold and visionary step. The Charter was presented in a Notice of Motion by Cllr Elissa Swinglehurst and agreed by a majority of full council.🧵

"£500m over 20 years is sod all," said @jakefiennes.bsky.social, responding to this week's announcement of govt funding for Landscape Recovery As Jake rightly points out, this is a fraction of the overall farming budget & not what was originally promised www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Actor, artist and activist Jim Murray is selling some extraordinary paintings which he made in collaboration with the River Wye - and he's kindly offering to donate a share of those profits to Friends of the River Wye! Read all about it… friendsoftheriverwye.org.uk/news/jim-mur...

Wait… what?! 😡 This is corporate greenwash on steroids - and our rivers are paying the price. 💩 Real green finance should = real environmental benefits. ❌Not glossy labels. ❌Not excuses. ❌And definitely NOT a mask for ongoing pollution. READ MORE: www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Extremely useful meeting this morning with cross-party River Wye MPs and campaigners to discuss next steps to tackle pollution. There is so much more that needs to be done, especially considering the disappointing Diffuse Water Pollution Plan published last week. Determined to keep up work on this!

We had a brilliant and productive meeting in Hereford this morning with three of our MPs representing the River Wye catchment. Huge thanks to @catherinefookesmp.bsky.social @elliechowns.bsky.social & David Chadwick. Lots of action to come to tackle flooding & river pollution.

Exclusive: Farmers and landowners fear Defra is putting its flagship Landscape Recovery schemes at risk. While the large-scale projects are intended to last 20-30 years, the government could pull the plug at any time with a year’s notice. cutcher.co.uk/linklog/2025...

🆘 PETITION CALL: SAVE THE RIVER CHERWELL @friendsofthethames.bsky.social have launched a petition calling on the government to take urgent action to contain & remove this hazardous waste before irreparable damage is done. ✍️ Sign the petition & demand action TODAY: www.change.org/p/action-aga...

Brilliant to spend the day at the Rivers conference in Herefordshire discussing innovative technology and projects combatting pollution, soil loss and more! Always fantastic to hear about the great work already being done to restore our rivers and discuss what more we need to do!

Severe flooding like we've seen across Monmouthshire will only become more frequent as climate breakdown progresses - building resilience could not be more important. By investing in #RiverFriendlyFarming, govt can help farmers manage floodwater and prevent disastrous outcomes.

🚨 SHOCKING 🚨 A HUGE illegal waste dump has appeared between the A34 and River Cherwell, linked to organised crime. Every rainfall risks toxins washing into the river. We’re calling on the Environment Agency & Cherwell Council to act NOW. Our rivers cannot wait. 👇👇

Our latest newsletter is out & launches our RUN-OFF REPORTER. We need soil on land, not in our rivers. If you spot spoil running off fields and into watercourses or onto roads, please report it. Healthy soil is also our best defence against flooding! mailchi.mp/44dbe537d6be...

New report with @WWFCymru.bsky.social exposes the hidden link between Welsh food, Brazilian deforestation and river pollution in Wales 🌍 Read Food, Forests and Injustice: 👉 sizeofwales.org.uk/news/new-rep... #SizeOfWales #WWFCymru #ClimateAction #COP30 #CymruatCOP30

Wales' Future Generations Commissioner Derek Walker has called for a "deforestation-free public sector" by 2028. www.bbc.com/news/article...

It’s been one year since 15,000 of us met to March for Clean Water! 🚶🌊 But one year on, what’s changed? Has the government listened? Are our rivers and seas rebounding from decades of neglect and abuse? 🤔 Our Head of Campaigns reflects on what's happened and where we go next. Read the blog below 👇

Sources for the drinking water of 6 million people in England so contaminated with PFAS forever chemicals, the Drinking Water Inspectorate has ordered water companies to act. Our story featured on @BBCr4today this morning + here on BBC Online: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

A great article in The Times this morning, putting the spotlight on the recently banned Red Tractor ad & proving that even “trusted” food labels aren’t immune to greenwash. TAKE ACTION: Contact your supermarket TODAY & tell them to to call out Red Tractor: 👉 bit.ly/4nPC3Ko #UpYourStandards

“Rights for nature are a crucial step towards rethinking our place in the world.” Protecting nature’s rights means protecting ourselves. #RightsForNature #ClimateAction

In a statement in the Senedd today, Wales’s Deputy First Minister admitted that much-needed reforms to the regulation of the water industry may take several years to implement. While it is important to get it right, this is time Welsh rivers can ill afford. More here: bit.ly/4ovRGGW

📢 Supermarkets - up your standards! ⚠️Big-name supermarkets use the Red Tractor logo to reassure shoppers of environmental protection — but rivers are still being polluted. ✉️TAKE ACTION - Tell your supermarket to call out Red Tractor, today! 👉 bit.ly/42G6YQV

Red Tractor's #greenwash has been exposed. Will supermarkets face reality - or cling to a broken system until public trust collapses? - @charleswatson.bsky.social READ MORE 👉 riveractionuk.com/news/its-tim... TAKE ACTION - email your supermarket, today! 👉 bit.ly/3J5PhDP

Launch of the new short film ‘Remember to Remember’, giving a glimpse above and below the surface of the ritual activism work with the River, the Goddess and the Lady of the Wye. Bringing the power of sacred connection to the fight for a River’s survival. Watch here: youtu.be/-aNaWD5GpJ4

Huge news! Red Tractor = false advertising. I broke this original story in The Times over 2 years ago…. And River Action took it to the Advertising Standards Authority

Red Tractor greenwashing claims banned by Advertising standards authority. Your regular reminder that Red Tractor is wholly owned by Farming Unions and the big food retailers. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

🚨 NEWS! Red Tractor ad banned for misleading environmental claims 🚨 A TV ad by the UK’s biggest farm assurance scheme has been banned after the @adstandards.bsky.social found “insufficient evidence” that Red Tractor farms met basic environmental standards. READ MORE: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨 The @adstandards.bsky.social rules Red Tractor misled customers on environmental standards. 🌍 🚫 📢 River Action urges supermarkets to stop relying on Red Tractor’s environmental certification and demand REAL action for our rivers. READ MORE 👉 riveractionuk.com/news/asa-rul...

Emerging young filmmaker Mykyta Osadchyi has made a compelling 25 minute documentary about the River Wye. It gives an excellent overview of the issues and our campaign to save the Wye. Here’s a trailer, but you can watch the full film on YouTube here: youtu.be/i45B-NfPr-4?...

We spoke to Nathan Jubb, a fly fishing guide who's fished the Wye for 45 years. He describes the change he's seen in the river + the impact on fish: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/r...