Recovering our Rivers: responsible river use
Our rivers are impacted by a huge range of different factors, from environmental factors like climate change to pollutants from our houses. Here are some things we can all do to ensure that the rivers are a healthy place for us all to use.
The Paddlers’ Code
Organisation:Â Â
British CanoeingÂ
The Paddlers Code | Respect, Protect, Enjoy.Â
Paddlers’ Code General Poster & QR code: Paddlers-Code-Poster-Final.pdf (paddlerscode.info)Â
Action:Â Â
Use the Paddler’s Code as a guide to enjoy our beautiful waterways responsibly: Respect other people, water-users, and the countryside; Protect wildlife and habitats, and ‘Check, Clean & Dry’ equipment; Enjoy yourself by being prepared for the adventure.Â
Location:Â
All waterways in the UK.Â
Level of commitment:Â
A commitment needed, just implement when out on the water.Â
Training required:Â
Simply read through the Paddlers’ Code. Â
Kit needed:Â
No kit neededÂ
Outcome:Â
The Paddlers’ Code is a simple set of good practice guidelines to follow when going out on the water, so that we can all enjoy our waterways responsibly and reduce our impacts on the landscape and wildlife.Â
Check Clean Dry
Organisation:Â
GB Non-native species secretariat (NNSS)Â
Check Clean Dry » NNSS (nonnativespecies.org)Â
https://www.nonnativespecies.org/what-can-i-do/check-clean-dry/Â
Action:Â
Check, Clean, Dry helps us to stop the spread of non-native plants and animals in our rivers. It is a widespread issue effecting most/all rivers in the United Kingdom. Plants and animals from all over the world have been introduced to British waters by people, usually accidentally. These are known as non-native species. Some of these non-native species have become invasive such as, Himalayan balsam. Over fifty different invasive freshwater species have already been found in our lakes, rivers and other waters. With the changing climate and increase of travel, these numbers are rising rapidly as they can be more adaptable to the changing climate.Â
Invasive non-native species cause serious environmental problems that can be irreversible. The effects include but are not limited to: impacting water activities e.g. damaging boats; outcompeting native species; reducing biodiversity and increasing flooding. The invasive species can be small and hard to spot, make sure to follow this practice to ensure that you are doing everything possible to reduce non-native species. Â
Check: Check your equipment, boat, and clothing after leaving the water for mud, aquatic animals or plant material. Remove anything you find and leave it at the site.Â
Clean: Clean everything thoroughly as soon as you can, paying attention to areas that are damp or hard to access. Use hot water if possible.Â
Dry: Dry everything for as long as you can before using elsewhere as some invasive plants and animals can survive for over two weeks in damp conditions.Â
Location:Â
UK wide, but can and should be widely practiced if going abroad.Â
Level of commitmentÂ
No commitment required, it should be undertaken when entering or exiting watercourses.Â
Training required Â
No training required, but it is recommended to read the guidance Â
Invasive species to look out for » NNSS (nonnativespecies.org)Â
Kit needed / providedÂ
Regular sterilising equipment - disinfect within 48 hours. Â
OutcomeÂ
Stopping the spread of non-native species can help in the efforts to manage them and restore our rivers. Ensuring that all of those who utilise the waterways follow the biosecurity protocols. This should improve the overall health of the ecosystem and the watercourse for all users.Â
Herefordshire Food Alliance
Organisation
Herefordshire Food Alliance  https://herefordshirefoodcharter.org.uk/Â
Action Â
Buy Good Food Direct in Herefordshire: The Food Alliance supports farmers producing food in ways that sustain and build nature. This includes: using cover crops to reduce soil erosion, improving soil health through herbal pasture, and stopping the run-off of dangerous nutrients into waterways by planting 'buffer strips' of meadow. Examples of these farmers can be found here: https://herefordshirefoodcharter.org.uk/blog/local-food-and-drink-producers-herefordshireÂ
Make positive change through actively supporting farmers that are helping to tackle the issues affecting our rivers. You will make a real difference to Herefordshire and beyond with your food purchases. Â
You can also show your commitment to a better food system by signing the Good Food Charter - on the Food Alliance website and seeing who else is working for change too.Â
https://herefordshirefoodcharter.org.uk/sign-the-charterÂ
LocationÂ
Across HerefordshireÂ
Level of commitmentÂ
Integrate into normal food shopping habits Â
Training required:Â
No training needed to purchase good food from good farms; a map is available. There are however many informative links to help us understand the challenges agriculture and rivers are facing. Â
OutcomeÂ
Conscientious buying can be very beneficial for the environment. Choosing food produced in a way that is sustainable and regenerative helps to keep our waterways cleaner.Â