River health is connected to so many environmental topics, from biodiversity to climate change, making rivers a key way to focus sustainability work within a catchment. Sustainable South Hams has had a spotlight focus on rivers for the first half of 2023, including a productive Rivers Assembly.
This section is under construction and will be completed very soon!
On Saturday, March 18th, 2023, the Rivers Assembly convened at Kingsbridge Community College to address South Hams rivers and their catchment areas. This gathering aimed to bring together stakeholders, organizations, and communities to discuss and act on river conservation and sustainability. The day featured presentations on the five South Hams River Catchments, followed by an extensive exhibition showcasing various projects and initiatives, including those related to wildlife conservation, water quality monitoring, and community engagement. Attendees also had the opportunity to participate in creative discussions, roundtable sessions, and topic spotlight talks. The event fostered knowledge exchange and collaboration among attendees to drive positive change for the region's rivers and ecosystems.
River water quality may have been the scandal of this year but it’s still shocking that out of 200,000km of English rivers, there are only a couple of hundred metres that are deemed officially safe to swim in. Journalist Jack Thompson explains more, and talks with grassroots community group Friends of the River Dart.
On June 20th, several group leaders from rivers projects on the Erme, Avon and Dart met three leading members of Yealm Estuary to Moor to learn and gain inspiration. Find out more in our blog post from Rachael Tily.
The Sustainable South Hams Rivers Assembly this March was a fantastic opportunity for making new connections and sparking new projects. Find out a bit more about some of the outcomes from the Assembly in the two months since.
Engaging residents and visitors to conserve, enhance, and and value the South Devon National Landscape. Projects include Farming in Protected Landscapes, Access for All, biodiversity projects in the estuaries, coast, and landscape including Life on the Edge - restoring coastal species-rich grasslands for endangered invertebrates.
Our goal is to create and restore habitats within the Yealm Catchment, working with professional partners such as Westcountry Rivers Trust, Devon Wildlife Trust, Woodland Trust, AONB, Dartmoor Parks Authority, National Trust.
We have been restoring and protecting freshwater environments in the Westcountry for more than 25 years. Our Mission is to restore and protect the rivers, lakes, and estuaries of the Westcountry for the benefit of nature, people, and local economies. Our Vision is to see people helping our Westcountry rivers flow freely and teem with life and valuing our vital natural resource, water.
Hope Cove and Soar Mill beach cleans and beach surveys with SMASH
Yealm Estuary Moor aims to improve the health & biodiversity of the River Yealm
Contribute to the resilience of our region's rivers, their habitats and wildlife