Taw and Torridge River Champions

15/06/2026

No longer considered a rarity in the UK - although I never saw a single one growing up - the little egret exploded onto these shores in the late 1980s. Today, we have a thriving breeding population of about 2,000 pairs.

This is the first one I’ve ever spotted along this specific stretch of the River Torridge, I usually only see them wading further down along the estuary shores of Bideford and beyond! Catching this one here was a total "right place, right time" moment.

Seeing them move further upriver is a fantastic sign, as these elegant hunters rely entirely on clean, healthy waterways. Because they wade through the shallows to spear small fish, amphibians, and invertebrates, they need pristine, unpolluted water to thrive. Clear water not only allows them to spot their prey with precision, but it also ensures that the delicate aquatic ecosystems supporting their food supply remain healthy. 🩵

05/06/2026

Finally, a walk along the Tarka Trail after a chaotic stretch of busy weeks and exhausted mornings! Waking up at 5:30 AM turned out to be the perfect excuse to get down there. The usual songbird chorus - blackcaps, blackbirds, and song thrushes - was in full swing. A few kingfishers flitted past, though they were far too quick for my camera! Thankfully, the mallards were much more cooperative subjects. Seeing the water alive with fish ripples and clouding with gnats was a beautiful reminder of a healthy ecosystem - something we should never take for granted. 💦 (the closest birds chattering in the background are fledged great t**s!)

31/05/2026

River Taw at Belstone this weekend, so beautiful

30/05/2026

Excellent news up country! Wouldn’t it be lovely to have this for the Taw & Torridge too? 💦

The River Wye has just made UK history.

For the first time, an entire river catchment has been formally recognised as a living ecosystem with rights - including the right to flow, thrive, regenerate, and be free from pollution.

It's a major victory for nature.

27/05/2026

A massive thank you to everyone who has hit that follow button!

Facebook’s algorithms don't always make it easy for content like ours to reach your feeds, so seeing our community grow over the last few weeks has been incredibly encouraging for the whole team.

We all share the same goal: protecting our precious waterways from pollution and destruction. Behind the scenes, we’re working on something big. The TTRC team is still in the planning stages, but we can’t wait to share an exciting announcement with you all soon!

Stay tuned, and thank you for standing with us. 💦

25/05/2026

Yesterday morning, the TTRC team was out under Woolleigh Bridge conducting water quality testing with the West Country Rivers Trust. Woolleigh Brook is a vital tributary of the River Torridge, and here is what our data showed:

The Science:
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): 101 ppm – Good water quality.
Turbidity: 12 NTU – Perfectly clear.
Water Temperature: 15°C.
Phosphate: 200 ppb – Poor. This is a little too high for comfort and a bit concerning.

The Environment:
Despite being right next to a busy road, the site was alive with bird song, buzzing insects, and wildflowers galore. Sadly, the human footprint was also visible - we spotted a discarded beer can in the stream and plastic rubbish littered along the banks.
A mixed bag for nature, but that is exactly why we monitor. We’ll be back under the bridge at the beginning of July for our next round of testing! 💦 🧪

20/05/2026

After a whole week away, I finally made it back to the river today. And do you know what? It’s still there! 🤓

There isn't much to report, just the usual beautiful bird song and a very full river, thanks to all the recent rain (which is exactly what kept me away!). Honestly, I didn't realise how much I’ve missed this place. It’s amazing what a little time by the water can do for your mental health - it completely resets your mind. 💦✨

15/05/2026

This will bring more water quality testing at these sites and, we hope, greater pressure on potential polluters

Newton and Noss Creeks in Devon and the River Fowey in Cornwall will be tested for water quality.

15/05/2026

This will mean more attention is given to testing the water and, we hope, more pressure on potential polluters

Newton and Noss Creeks in Devon and the River Fowey in Cornwall will be tested for water quality.