Ari Fairgrieve, a River Sherbourne Valley Project Trainee and Youth Secretary for our Youth Committee, shares their experience of being part of a river of people flowing through London to March for Clean Water on Sunday. The march aimed to #FloodTheStreets as a peaceful coalition, to petition the government for clean water across the UK.

Ari and Alex, staff representatives from Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, were welcomed immediately by a sea of blue as they arrived in London. With placard signs and blue t-shirts of their own, they joined London Wildlife Trust with the Head of Conservation, Richard Barnes, to march along the bank of the River Thames with over 130 organisations and members of the public. This felt fitting as there has been 1,914 hours of human waste pumped into the River Thames since the beginning of 2024 and 92% of samples by Thamas21 revealed a significant number presence of coliform bacteria.

The march was filled with beautiful pieces of art including costumes, banners, sculptures, puppets, signs, face paint, hats, and more. There were even dogs dressed in blue outfits supporting the cause. Look at the gallery below of this eclectic artwork:

Everyone gathered in Parliament Square after the march to hear energising talks and words of solidarity from different organisations, including a young volunteer from Birmingham Wildlife Trust, and wildlife presenter and campaigner Chris Packham. You can listen to these talks on the Wildlife Trusts YouTube channels.

Watch the March for Clean Water Livestream

Ari attended the march to represent young people’s interests for nature, clean water, and the River Sherbourne project. Rivers like the Sherbourne are in big trouble due to pollution, becoming inhospitable places for people and wildlife. Ari also wanted to honour her grandparents, who have seen the Humber Estuary become more and more polluted over time. Places that they once took Ari as a child and have fond memories of are now unsafe to swim in.

The Sherbourne Valley Project is led by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, with a number of project partners and funders, to improve the waterway that flows through the heart of Coventry. To learn more and see how you can get involved, visit the Sherbourne Valley Project website.

The atmosphere throughout the march shifted from joyous shared humanity, excitement for the day ahead, and concern for our waters. Music played and songs were chanted to keep spirits high. Attendees said it was uplifting to be part of the river of people dressed in blue, and to see so many visibly united by one cause gave a real sense of movement to the march.

Young people are experiencing not just eco-anxiety but also eco-grief: an emotional response to the loss of the natural world. The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries and events like the March for Clean Water provide an opportunity for young people to express these feelings and work together to overcome them.

Has this blog inspired you to do something for nature?

If you are a young person between 18-30 years old, you can apply for the 2025 Youth Committee. There are five positions available from events ambassador to reserves ambassador to volunteer coordinator. There is a role for everyone. You must live, work or study in Warwickshire, Coventry, Solihull or the surrounding area. You do not need any particular experience or qualifications to apply, just a love of nature, enthusiasm to take action, and a passion to further the work of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

Apply for the 2025 Youth Committee

Or join our Volunteering community of over 800 people who contribute to protecting and enhancing wildlife, natural habitats and geology throughout Warwickshire, Coventry, and Solihull. We have a number of projects to get involved with from outdoor opportunities to offices and visitor centre support. You must be over 18 years old and most of our locations are not on public transport routes so volunteers may need their own transport.

Volunteer for Wildlife