Rivers are one of the most precious ecosystems on the planet. When healthy, they're a climate crisis ally, a sanctuary for biodiversity, a place of connection and play, and a vital source of drinking water. Despite this, they are under threat. Many of our rivers are barely functioning, but we're stepping in to save them. Tune into Rambling About Rivers to find out more about the threats facing rivers, the work of The Rivers Trust Movement, and what you can do to help.
Find out more: www.theriverstrust.org or follow us @theriverstrust
We sat down with Manchán Magan, effervescent broadcaster, writer, and All-Ireland ambassador for The Rivers Trust, in April 2025. We were devastated later in the year to hear that he'd lost a long battle with cancer, and our waterways lost a true friend.
His insights and unique storytelling continue to inspire us. To honour his legacy and his enthusiasm for supporting The Rivers Trust, we're closing out this series of Rambling About Rivers with this conversation. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
Find out more and get involved:
Find your local Rivers Trust (https://theriverstrust.org/about-us/member-trusts)
Sign up to our newsletter (https://theriverstrust.org/newsletter)
Visit www.theriverstrust.org (https://www.theriverstrust.org/) for more
Follow us on social media @theriverstrust. Hosted and edited by Emma Brisdion and Matthew Woodard, mixed by Mark Skinner.
15 Jan 2026
2.7: Data - gaps in the evidence, and the power of citizen science
Rivers are essential to life, but our understanding of river health and issues is fragmented. Why are there such huge gaps in freshwater monitoring, what opportunities or issues are being missed as a result, and how can citizen science change the game?
This week we join Michelle Walker, Technical Director and citizen science expert at The Rivers Trust, to survey her local tributary for riverflies - vital indicators of river health. To learn more about how volunteer-gathered data played an essential role in cleaning up over 5 million wet wipes from the Thames' foreshore, we chat to Felicity Rhodes, Thames Programme Manager at Thames 21.
Find out more and get involved:
Explore the Riverfly Monitoring Dataset (https://castco-theriverstrust.hub.arcgis.com/datasets/riverfly-monitoring-initiative-public/explore?location=50.201944%2C-2.083042%2C6.00) on the CaSTCo website.
Read about the removal works at 'Wet Wipe Island' (https://www.thames21.org.uk/2025/09/five-million-wet-wipes-dug-out-in-clean-up-of-londons-wet-wipe-island/)
Find your local Rivers Trust (https://theriverstrust.org/about-us/member-trusts)
Sign up to our newsletter (https://theriverstrust.org/newsletter)
Visit www.theriverstrust.org (https://www.theriverstrust.org/) for more
Follow us on social media @theriverstrust. Hosted and edited by Emma Brisdion and Matthew Woodard, mixed by Mark Skinner.
27 Nov 2025
2.6: Flower Farmer & UK Youth for Nature Co-Director, Roisin Taylor
We’re chatting with cut flower farmer, and Co-Director of UK Youth for nature, Roisin Taylor, who works tirelessly to engage young people in the UK in climate and nature action, and provide opportunities for them to build skills and be a key part of campaigns seeking to protect and improve our green and blue spaces – including our rivers.
She’s also intimately connected to the health of our rivers as a nature-friendly flower farmer, and has been a strong advocate for our Making Space For Water Campaign,
Find out more and get involved:
Sign the petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/727016 (https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/727016)
Find out more about the Making Space for Water campaign: www.makingspaceforwater.com (www.makingspaceforwater.com )
Get to know UK Youth for Nature: www.uky4n.org (https://uky4n.org/)
Find your local Rivers Trust (https://theriverstrust.org/about-us/member-trusts)
Sign up to our newsletter (https://theriverstrust.org/newsletter)
Visit www.theriverstrust.org (https://www.theriverstrust.org/) for more
Follow us on social media @theriverstrust. Hosted and edited by Emma Brisdion and Matthew Woodard, mixed by Mark Skinner.
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