Bristol Avon Rivers Trust

06/10/2026

We’re growing, and we’re looking for two new people to join our team! 🌿

We’re recruiting for a Project Assistant to help deliver practical projects that make a real difference to rivers, wildlife and communities across the Bristol Avon catchment.

From carrying out river and catchment surveys and supporting habitat restoration projects, to working with landowners, volunteers, schools and community groups, this is a varied, hands-on role for someone who is passionate about protecting and restoring our waterways.

We’re also looking for a Farm Advisor to work directly with farmers and landowners to identify environmental risks and opportunities and develop practical, achievable solutions that benefit both farm businesses and the environment.

This role is all about building strong relationships and finding realistic ways to improve water quality, support nature and create more resilient farmed landscapes, while understanding the commercial realities of farming.

If either of these roles sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you!

👉 Find out more about both roles and how to apply below:

https://bristolavonriverstrust.org/vacancies/

06/10/2026

We don’t often get the chance to experience the river from a canoe, kayak or paddleboard as we’re usually in the water rather than on it, so it was great to switch things up at our most recent team social and spend the day paddling down the Avon.

It was such a beautiful day, and being out on the river was a wonderful reminder of why we do what we do - working to create vibrant, clean and biodiverse rivers where both people and wildlife can thrive.

A huge thank you to the team at UK Active Outdoors for taking us out and making it such a brilliant experience.

05/10/2026

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05/10/2026

At the end of last month, we were joined by volunteers from Trout in the Trym to deliver habitat restoration work on the River Trym.

Together, the team built two in-stream berms and around 40 metres of dead hedging, creating valuable habitat and helping to improve the river for wildlife.

This work forms part of a wider programme of restoration we’ve been delivering along the Trym to improve river habitat and support a healthier, more resilient ecosystem.

A big thank you to the fantastic volunteers for all their hard work and dedication, and to our project funders, Bristol City Council and West of England Combined Authority for making this work possible.

01/10/2026

Revisiting sites of past River Restoration work really highlights what this is all about. Wild Things Farm in Pensford is bustling with life, both in and around the river itself.

The wetland was created in 2022 to improve the health of the River Chew and boost local biodiversity. It also provides other benefits including acting as a natural flood defence and filtering pollutants whilst preventing excess sediment from entering the river.

Did you know? Wetlands make up around 3% of the UK but are home to 10% of wildlife!

29/09/2026

Come along to the Nissen Hut for an evening dedicated to our local rivers!

Arranged by the Peoples University of Fishpond's, they will be showing Bristol's Hidden River (a film created in 2025 by BART and Aleks Domanski) and we will be sharing more about the work underway to restore and improve river health across the area. There are still a few tickets available, so get yours now!

Tickets are now available for Bristol’s Hidden River/Bristol Avon Rivers Trust at The Nissen Hut, Eastville on Sunday 4th October 2026. Click the link for further information and to secure your tickets now!

28/09/2026

Our amazing volunteers are at the heart of what we do.

Each month, volunteers walk, test or monitor thier local watercourses, collecting vital information that helps us understand the health of rivers across our catchment.

Fancy getting involved? Visit our website to find volunteering opportunities near you.

https://bristolavonriverstrust.org/volunteering/

27/09/2026

On World Rivers Day, find out what our Outdoor Education Officer, Rosie, enjoys most about her role here at BART.

27/09/2026

Our rivers need more than our admiration. They need our action.

Across the Bristol Avon catchment, low flows and prolonged dry weather are putting rivers and wildlife under increasing pressure.

But there is hope. By restoring wetlands and habitats, improving land management and water quality, and working together across whole catchments, we can build healthier, more resilient rivers.

This World Rivers Day, find your local river. Walk beside it. Learn about it. Notice when something changes. Most importantly, value it and help protect it.

Our rivers are worth fighting for.

Read more here: https://bristolavonriverstrust.org/latest-updates/

16/09/2026

Between the 18th - 24th September 2026, we’re coming together for rivers to take part in the next Big River Watch citizen science event and we want you to join us.

Big River Watch is an invitation for communities to love their local river and to be part of the movement demanding better for our rivers.

All you need to do to take part is to download the free Big River Watch app, visit your local river and complete a simple survey on what you see. Anybody in the UK and Ireland who can access a river can take part, and the app is available in English and Welsh.

Big River Watch consists of three simple steps:

Step 1: Download the app
Sign up and download the Big River Watch app to your phone before visiting your chosen river.

Step 2: Complete a survey
Pick a riverside location and spend just 15 minutes observing and answering the questions on the survey, about things like wildlife and pollution. You can complete the survey at your favourite local spot, or choose to get to know somewhere new.

Step 3: Upload
Upload your survey. It's that simple to get involved!

All of the survey data will provide a large-scale picture of river health, and help us fight for better for our rivers.

Users also have the option to sign up to connect with their local Rivers Trust, through which they could find out about events and other citizen science or volunteering opportunities in their area.

Sign up to take part using the form on this webpage:

https://theriverstrust.org/take-action/the-big-river-watch