South East Rivers Trust

17/06/2026

We’re hiring!

We’re looking for a creative and proactive Communications and Marketing Officer to join our team at the South East Rivers Trust.

This is a brilliant opportunity to use your storytelling, content creation and digital marketing skills to help bring our river restoration work to life.

Working closely with our Digital Marketing and Communications Manager, you’ll help share stories from across our projects, manage social media content, support fundraising campaigns and inspire more people to take action for rivers.

If you’re confident with words, digitally minded and passionate about making a positive difference for nature and communities, we’d love to hear from you.

Join us and help rivers thrive across the South East.

Find out more and apply:

Creative storyteller wanted to turn complex ideas into engaging content and digital campaigns that inspire action—help grow fundraising to protect and improve rivers across the South East.

01/06/2026

💙 "I wanted to meet new people, reconnect with nature and help preserve this beautiful place for generations to come."

As Volunteers' Week begins, we're celebrating the incredible people who give their time to help rivers thrive.

Last week, we caught up with one of our newest Riverfly volunteers during training at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve. Like many of our volunteers, they joined to learn new skills, connect with others and make a positive difference for local rivers and wildlife.

From monitoring river health and surveying wildlife to helping at events and restoration projects, our volunteers are at the heart of what we do.

Thank you to every volunteer who helps protect and restore rivers across the South East. 🌿

Interested in getting involved? We'd love to hear from you. Contact our volunteering team via [email protected]

29/05/2026

Did you know hundreds of people across the South East took part in Big River Watch this spring?

Together they spent 83 hours by rivers, spotting everything from kingfishers and dragonflies to fish, riverflies and even otters 🦦

In our latest newsletter, you'll also discover:
💙 A new project helping the critically endangered European eel
🔬 Exciting eDNA results from the Eden Valley
👥 How we're working to make chalk streams more accessible
📅 Upcoming events you can get involved in

Read the latest newsletter or sign up to receive future updates straight to your inbox.

Read the May newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/southeastriverstrust.org/may2026-newsletter-8342055

Sign up here: www.southeastriverstrust.org/mailing-list

28/05/2026

What a lovely day at 💧

We had an amazing time meeting families, chatting about rivers and wildlife, and sharing some of the ways we help restore and protect freshwater habitats across the South East.

We estimate we engaged with around 600 people throughout the day, and it was especially inspiring to see so many young people diving into the activities, asking thoughtful questions and discovering more about the creatures living in our rivers.

Events like this are such an important reminder of how curious and passionate the next generation is about the natural world 🌿

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our stand!

23/05/2026

🐟 What happens when you reconnect a river? Nature responds.

Since 2012, the South East Rivers Trust and partners have been working to remove barriers along the Hogsmill River in South London, helping fish move freely again through this urban chalk stream.

At Chamber Mead, two weirs were removed in 2013. Before the work, just a handful of sticklebacks survived upstream. Today, the river tells a very different story.

✨ Fish species are returning
✨ Numbers are increasing
✨ European eels are back
✨ The river is recovering

By 2025, surveys recorded bullhead, minnows, dace, stone loach, chub and eels upstream of the former barriers, demonstrating the incredible ecological recovery that can happen when rivers are reconnected.

Sometimes restoring nature starts with simply getting out of the way.

This , we’re celebrating the power of river restoration and the species making remarkable journeys through our waterways once again. 🌊

Swipe to see the before and after pictures.

22/05/2026

What could be hiding beneath the surface of our rivers? 👀

As part of an eDNA sampling project across the Eden Valley and Eden for Nature farm clusters, we’ve identified something very special at Ardenrun Farm/Big Wood Estate…
Lophopus crystallinus — a rare crystal bryozoan, also known as a “moss animal” 🦠

This fascinating freshwater species is extremely difficult to see with the naked eye and has only been recorded at three UK sites in the last 20 years!

The discovery shows just how important healthy rivers and wetlands are for supporting biodiversity, including species many of us never even realise are there.

The project was supported by the High Weald National Landscape Partnership through FiPL funding, with sample analysis carried out by Trace Biomonitoring. A huge thank you to everyone involved in helping us better understand and protect the wildlife living in our rivers.



High Weald National Landscape
The Big Wood Estate

21/05/2026

🌿The countdown is on for ! 💧

Join us across the week as we celebrate London’s rivers through creativity, community and connection with nature.

We’ve got a fantastic line-up of free family-friendly events taking place across south London:

🎉 Elmbridge Meadows Celebration – Sat 23 May
A free afternoon of riverside fun, activities and nature connection for all ages.

🎨 Family Crafternoon at Riverside Gardens, Orpington – Wed 27 May
Get creative with river-inspired crafts this half term.

🖼️ Make Like Morris: Wandle Blooms Linoprint Workshop – Sat 30 May
Celebrate the River Wandle’s rich creative heritage with a nature-inspired linoprint workshop.

Come and discover the stories, wildlife and creativity flowing through London’s rivers 🌱

Book your free place here: www.southeastriverstrust.org/events

18/05/2026

🌿 Celebrate London’s rivers with us this ! 🌿

From family-friendly afternoons outdoors to creative workshops inspired by local wildlife, we’ve got something for everyone this half term 💧All events are free to attend!

Join us to explore, create and connect with your local rivers and green spaces:

🎉 Elmbridge Meadows Celebration – Sat 23 May
A free family afternoon packed with nature, activities, craft and riverside fun.

🎨 Family Crafternoon at Riverside Gardens, Orpington – Wed 27 May
Get creative with nature-inspired crafts and discover more about the rivers on your doorstep.

🖼️ Wandle Blooms Linoprint Workshop – Sat 30 May
Create beautiful prints inspired by the River Wandle and the natural world around it.

Visit our events page to find out more and book your free place: www.southeastriverstrust.org/events

Come and celebrate the rivers, wildlife and communities that make London special 💙