Did you know that Yorkshire's rivers drain 20% of England's water into the North Sea?
That means that what goes down our drains and streams does not stay locally. Every year, pollution from our streets, homes, and land flows down our rivers, through the Humber Estuary, and out into the Ocean, threatening everything from mayflies to porpoises.
Small, everyday actions add up to cleaner waters for both people and wildlife.
We can all help change that.
Whether it is picking up litter, monitoring water quality, or simply binning wet wipes instead of flushing them, small actions inland can safeguard marine ecosystems miles away.
Led by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, this project welcomes both groups and individual volunteers. You’ll help check the litter entering our rivers and carry out simple chemical tests in spring and autumn. No experience is needed — just enthusiasm and a love for Yorkshire’s waterways.
At the moment we are looking for volunteers to join the twice‑yearly Great UK Water Blitz and help us track nutrient and plastic pollution entering the Rivers Aire and Derwent.
To find out more and get involved, visit the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust website: Rivers to Reef | Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
Rivers to Reef is a partnership project delivered by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Aire Rivers Trust, and the Yorkshire Derwent Catchment Partnership, with support from Yorkshire Water. Together, we are uniting communities, scientists, and policymakers to protect Yorkshire’s rivers, estuaries, and marine environments, from source to sea.
