World Rivers Day Is A Celebration of The World’s Waterways!
Celebrated on the fourth Sunday of September each year, World Rivers Day is about highlighting the importance of rivers and the benefits they bring to people and wildlife.
World Rivers Day promotes the many values of our rivers, strives to increase public awareness, and encourages the improved stewardship of all rivers around the world. Rivers in virtually every country face an array of threats, and only through our active involvement can we ensure their health in the years ahead.
So, what are the benefits of rivers and what can we do to improve them?
5 things your river can do for you!
1. Wildlife watching
River habitats are an abundant source of wildlife. Whether you’re into birdwatching, bug hunting, or wildlife photography, a river-bank provides plenty of opportunity to observe unique and diverse creatures found both in and out of the water. Always make sure you respect the wildlife you’re observing so as not to disturb them.
2. Water activities
Rivers are a great place to get active and enjoy activities such as stand-up paddle boarding, canoeing and wild swimming. Even if you’d rather just dip your toes in the water make sure you stay safe and follow any rules or regulations when enjoying the water!
3. Outdoor learning
Rivers are a wonderful place for children and adults alike to learn more about the world around them! Try pond dipping to find out about the biodiversity found in river habitats or learn about the life cycles of amphibians and insects as the seasons change.
4. Angling
Fishing is a great hobby for those who want to get outside, relax and enjoy nature. It does require patience and persistence, but it can also be very rewarding! You'll need to buy your rod licence from the Environment Agency, plus a permit for the river you wish to fish in.
5. Mental wellbeing
Rivers are an excellent place to relax and unwind! A recent study found that spending time near rivers and canals improved mental wellbeing with lasting positive impacts. You can read the paper here.
5 things you can do for your river!
1. Keep things tidy!
Make sure that others can also enjoy the river by leaving the environment as you found it! Take your litter home and pick up after your dog!
2. Reporting pollution
If you see something say something! You can report pollution to the Environment Agency or the relevant water company.
3. Check, clean, dry!
Biosecurity is about reducing the risk of introducing or spreading invasive non-native species and diseases in the countryside. Species and diseases can spread by hitchhiking on boat hulls, paddleboards, fishing rods, bike tyres, walking boots, wellies, survey equipment and even dog paws! Make sure you check, clean, and dry all of your equipment in between uses!
4. Volunteer
There are plenty of ways to get involved in river conservation. We run various projects throughout the year and rely on volunteers to help achieve our goals. If you’d like to add your details to our volunteer database, please send an email to info@essexsuffolkriverstrust.org for more information.
5. Save water
Visit our dedicated water saving page for tips on how to build good water saving habits, and to learn about the Water for Tomorrow project in East Suffolk. Saving water at home, work and school will benefit our rivers and freshwater habitats.
How have you celebrated this World Rivers Day? Let us know on our social media pages!
