Partners
A number of organisations are backing this campaign, inlcuding the ones below:
Environment Agency
The Environment Agency aims to protect and improve the environment, and to promote sustainable development. They play a central role in delivering the environmental priorities of central government and the Welsh Government through their functions and roles.
“The amount of water that we use at home and in our businesses has a direct effect on the amount of water available in our rivers and for wildlife. We would urge all water users – including consumers, businesses and farmers – to use water wisely to help protect our valuable rivers.”
Lord Smith, Chairman of the Environment Agency
National Trust
The National Trust is a UK conservation charity, protecting historic places and green spaces, and opening them up forever, for everyone.
“We’re delighted to be involved in the Love Your River campaign an amazing 43 per cent of the land in England and Wales drains to the boundary of National Trust owned land. Whether you earn your living from, travel on or play in the rivers of the UK, rivers can join us together, connect us back to the natural world and provide natural corridors for our wildlife. This campaign will help raise awareness of how actions we all take can affect the health of our rivers and wildlife they support. We all have a role to play in using water wisely.”
Simon Pryor, Natural Environment Director at the National Trust
The Wildlife Trusts
The Wildlife Trusts were formed across the UK in response to the widespread devastation of our natural habitats. They are the largest UK voluntary organisation dedicated to protecting wildlife and wild places everywhere – at land and sea.
“The amazing wildlife of our rivers and wetlands is under immense pressure from drought and other factors. Many of us would like to help but don’t know what action to take. There are simple steps around water use that can make a real difference including turning off taps when cleaning our teeth. As well as saving water, you might also want to find out more and get involved with what your local Wildlife Trust is doing for rivers and wetlands near you.”
Paul Wilkinson, Head of Living Landscape for The Wildlife Trusts
Waterwise
Waterwise is a UK NGO focused on decreasing water consumption in the UK and building the evidence base for large scale water efficiency. They are the leading authority on water efficiency in the UK.
Keep Britain Tidy
Keep Britain Tidy is an environmental charity and the anti-litter campaign for England. It runs programmes such as Eco-Schools, Blue Flag and Quality Coast Awards for beaches, and the Green Flag for parks to demonstrate practical action.
“Keep Britain Tidy is delighted to support the Love Your River campaign. We believe its vital to reconnect people with the river environment and help them understand how making small reductions in their use of water in the home can have a really positive impact on their local river and the wildlife it supports. We already work to help communities look after their rivers through our RiverCare programmes and we hope that Love Your River will encourage more of us to take action and to understand how our lifestyles can impact on our local environment.”
Richard McIlwain, Community Development Manager, Keep Britain Tidy
Anglian Water
“Every drop of water we treat and supply is borrowed from the environment – from the rivers and wetlands that help define the East of England.
Ours is also the driest and lowest lying part of the country, putting it on the frontline of the fight against climate change and the added threat of drought.
This campaign’s message could not be more important or more timely. We all benefit from our rivers and all have a stake in keeping them healthy and flowing. Conserving water at home is a simple way for us all to play a part in keeping water in the environment for the benefit of people and wildlife.”
Andy Brown, Climate Change and Environmental Performance Manager at Anglian Water
Thames Water
“Following one of the driest two-year periods in our region since records began, many of the tributaries which feed the River Thames are running low. In some cases whole stretches of these rivers – for example the Pang in Berkshire and the Kennet in Wiltshire – have dried up completely, and we are only in March.
We all need to recognise that the water coming out of our taps comes from our local river or from the aquifer feeding that river. The less water we all use the less we need to take from the local river, and from the habitats and wildlife it supports.
The current drought is not just our problem, it’s everyone’s problem and we can all do our bit to help by doing simple things like turning off taps while we brush our teeth and taking shorter showers.”
Richard Aylard, director of sustainability for Thames Water
South East Water
“Rivers are such an important part of our daily lives and yet it is a connection that is easily forgotten. Whenever we turn on the tap we should remember that the water we use may be from a river, and when we let the plug out of the bath much of this water will return back to the environment.
Water companies work hard to protect this natural environment, carefully managing the amount of water we take from rivers, and then ensuring water is treated to high standards before it is returned to the environment. By reducing leaks and making our treatment works more efficient we are investing in our rivers for the future.
We hope everyone is encouraged to ‘Love Your River’ and that together we can all take steps to use water wisely and know that in doing so we are helping protect this vital water habitat.”
Paul Butler, Managing Director, South East Water
The Conservation Volunteers
“We welcome the ‘Love Your River’ Campaign supported by Defra. We know only too well the important role that rivers play as community green places and the need to involve local people in their management. Each year TCV organises about 1,000 projects which help local volunteers to clear rivers and make them better places for people and wildlife. The Love Your River Campaign is a fantastic way to engage more communities in caring for their rivers and I wish it every success.”
Tom Flood CBE, Chief Executive of TCV
British Waterways
British Waterways is the Defra-sponsored body which cares for the nation’s 200-year old network of canals and rivers. This summer 2,000 miles of these waterways in England and Wales will be transferred to the Canal & River Trust, creating one of the UK’s largest environmental charities and giving local people the chance to make a real difference to their local waterway.
“British Waterways very much welcomes the Love Your River campaign and we are proud to give it our support. It is a cliché to say that water is the stuff of life but nowhere is this more apparent than in our rivers and canals, and at no time is this message more important than during the current drought. Caring for these precious waterways is not simply the role of distant organisations and authorities, it is something that we can all get involved in. Later this year we will be launching the Canal & River Trust and we have been overwhelmed by the number of people who want to get involved and care for their local waterway. If this enthusiasm is anything to go by then the future of our waterways is in safe hands.”
Caroline Killeavy, Head of Community Engagement, British Waterways
The Rivers Trust
The Rivers Trust is an independent environmental charity and the umbrella body of the rivers trusts movement in England and Wales that works to restore and rehabilitate rivers and their catchments.
The Rivers Trust is very pleased to support this timely initiative which recognises the critical role that all citizens can play in protecting their local river and the many benefits to society that such protection affords.
Northumbrian Water Limited
Northumbrian Water Limited supplies 2.6 million customers with water and waste water services in north east England, trading as Northumbrian Water, and 1.8 million customers with water services in south east England, trading as Essex & Suffolk Water.
Woodland Trust
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It plants trees, protects woods and inspires people to enjoy the nature on their doorstep.
“We are working with communities to highlight the role that trees can play in helping to maintain and improve water quality, reduce the risk and severity of flooding and help minimize the impact of droughts. We wholeheartedly support the Love Your River Campaign and its aim to inspire people to take action to improve their local rivers and the environment around them.”
Stuart Dainton, Head of Partnerships, Woodland Trust