Norfolk Rivers Trust

27/08/2026

Establishing a baseline of the wildlife inhabiting a river and its banks before restoration begins helps us understand which species are present or missing. This means we can design interventions that will deliver the greatest impact. 📈

During a recent fish survey on a section of the River Stiffkey, we were thrilled to find a promising mix of species, including brown trout, eel, lamprey, three-spined stickleback, stone loach and bullhead. 🐟

Our upcoming project will create better habitat, support their lifecycles and encourage missing species to return.

⚠️ We measure water temperature before every survey, and fish welfare is our top priority. Handling and containment is kept to a minimum, and fish are released after being measured and recorded. An air pump was used throughout to keep the water well oxygenated.

21/08/2026

👀 One for our followers: SUPER NATURE is a new documentary shot on Super 8 film, crafted from footage captured by 25 filmmakers across the world - travelling through landscapes, oceans and skies to celebrate the beauty and resilience of life on Earth. 🌎

Directed by Ed Sayers, this immersive film explores the natural world in all its diversity, echoing many of the themes we champion here in Norfolk.

🎟️ Showing at Cinema City, Norwich on Weds 26 Aug at 6pm, followed by a Director Q&A.

Watch the trailer in the comment below 👇

20/08/2026

Farm tracks are busy areas prone to soil compaction and surface damage, often becoming pollution pathways during heavy rainfall - a risk made even greater after such a prolonged dry spell. ⛈️🚜

Over the winter, we worked with a landowner in the Upper Bure river catchment to reduce erosion risk at field gateways and along farm tracks.

With funding support from the National Trust - East of England's Riverlands project, as well as the WWF UK and Carlsberg partnership, we created a series of bunds (small humps) and scrapes to stop surface water from escaping through gateways. Additionally, cobble-filled trenches across the upper track now slow the flow and help prevent erosion.

Find out more in our latest video case study. 📹

17/08/2026

The River Glaven is home to some of our most iconic river species – brown trout, bullhead, caddisfly larvae and white-clawed crayfish. But what’s the one thing that all these species have in common? 🌊

They need clean gravel riverbeds.

Gravel beds are where trout build their nests, where invertebrates shelter, and where so much river life begins. That’s why we work across river catchments to reduce sediment reaching rivers – helping keep these vital habitats clean. 🌿

13/08/2026

Fish deaths on the Wensum show what long‑term damage and extreme summers are doing to Norfolk’s rivers. ⚠️🐟

Centuries of drainage mean rainwater now rushes out of our landscapes instead of feeding rivers through the year. The Wensum has lost its natural filters, its shade, and its steady summer flows - fragmented by dams and weirs, overheated by drought, and pushed to breaking point by pollution and low water levels.

But these problems are fixable. The Wensum can recover. We just need to start now.

Our new 2030 strategy is our roadmap to a healthier, more resilient future for Norfolk's rivers and wetlands. It requires bold action, essential collaboration and adequate funding.

Follow the link in the first comment. 👇

06/08/2026

As drought and water scarcity continue to shape this summer, The Rivers Trust has shared an update on what this means for rivers, wildlife, and communities - and the actions needed to build resilience. ⚠️🐟

🌡️ Record-breaking temperatures and weeks of exceptionally dry weather have left large parts of the UK and Ireland facing drought and water scarcity.

But what does that mean for our rivers?

Our latest blog looks at how hot weather and low water levels can:
⚠️ Cause pollution levels to spike
🦠 Trigger harmful algal blooms
🐟 Put freshwater wildlife, including migratory fish, under increasing pressure

We also explore the solutions needed to create healthier, more resilient rivers that can handle the changing climate, from making space for water across the landscape and improving infrastructure, to the simple actions we can all take at home to reduce pressure on our waterways.

Read the full blog on our website 👇

https://theriverstrust.org/about-us/news/drought-and-water-scarcity-summer-2026

Photo credit: Trent Rivers Trust

06/08/2026

❓ What happens to pet flea treatments, containing fipronil and imidacloprid, after they are applied to our pets?

Studies found:

➡️ 100% of wash off samples from treated dogs contained fipronil and imidacloprid (1).
➡️ The highest concentrations of these toxic pesticides detected in rivers occurred downstream of wastewater treatment works (2).
➡️ Dog swimming increases concentrations of these pesticides in ponds and lakes (3).

What does this tell us?

Everyday activities can wash fipronil and imidacloprid off treated pets and into our rivers. Bathing pets, washing their bedding and even owner handwashing can all provide pathways for these chemicals to enter freshwater environments via household wastewater.

🪲 These chemicals are highly toxic and linked to declines in freshwater insects such as mayflies and dragonflies, which are an important food source for fish and birds.

Last month, more than 700 WildFish supporters took part in an email action calling for these chemicals to be sold only with professional veterinary advice.
We now await the government's response.

📣 The evidence is clear. Regulators must act to bring these potent chemicals under tighter control - or ban them entirely - and help protect our wild fish and freshwater biodiversity for the future.

Want updates like this direct to your inbox? Subscribe to our newsletter today 🔗 https://wildfish.org/ .

06/08/2026

With the help of Butterfly Conservation, we surveyed the moth population inhabiting the River Glaven beaver enclosure for the first time.

A total of 45 species emerged from the traps, giving us a fascinating glimpse into the small lives that depend on this mosaic of habitats.

Read Butterfly Conservation's blog to find out more about the survey and explore the full list of species recorded.

Link in the first comment 👇

05/08/2026