Bioregional health

River Keepers

Are you a River Keeper? River Keepers look after their rivers in lots of different ways, all over the UK. We love our rivers… being on, in or beside them. When something isn’t right River Keepers take action by calling the Environment Agency’s incident hotline and posting online. As part of a growing network of citizen scientists, River Keepers take samples of the water for pollutants to track the river’s health.

River Keepers is a grassroots movement fostering direct action for river conservation across the UK's 1,500 river systems.

The project emphasises:

Pollution reporting: Immediate response to environmental incidents via the Environment Agency hotline (0800 555 111) and social media1.
Citizen science: Regular water sampling to track pollutants and assess river health1.
Community stewardship: Encouraging creative, localised care for waterways through litter cleanups, habitat restoration, and public education1.
Collaborative action: Partnering with groups like Friends of Ernesettle & Budshead Wood to implement management plans with local councils1.

The initiative responds to urgent challenges including plastic pollution, biodiversity loss, and agricultural runoff exacerbated by extreme weather.

No items found.

Report pollution in your area

To report a pollution incident to the Environment Agency call 0800 555 111.

From observation to action

Sarah’s work in Plymouth exemplifies the River Keepers’ approach:

Monitors Tamerton Lake and Budshead Wood creeks, balancing ecological care with community engagement.
Leads through practical action: litter removal, orchard maintenance, and real-time pollution alerts to authorities.
Operates under the philosophy of “collective responsibility,” stating:

“We protect and nurture green spaces for our whole community—participation and collaboration are key”.

This model empowers citizens to become frontline defenders of their local waterways.

‍

A movement for turbulent times

River Keepers addresses modern environmental pressures through:

Crisis response: Mitigating impacts of COVID-19 disruptions and post-Brexit regulatory changes on water systems.
Intersectional approach: Blending ecology, art, and education to rebuild human-waterway relationships.
Scalable solutions: Local actions like mulching orchards or reporting industrial waste contribute to national river health goals.

The project frames riverkeeping as both a practical duty and a cultural shift toward valuing waterways as living systems rather than resources.

All information sourced from the River Keepers project page.

No items found.

Related Bioregional health projects

Bioregional health

Local

Devon Doughnut

Measuring bioregional health