Wild for Water

Why water?

The wider Wildlife Trust movement has called for an end to river pollution and water scarcity, asking the Government to sufficiently resource and empower environmental watchdogs to be able to enforce the law, and to halve the amount of nutrient pollution by 2030.

Over the last 18 months, we have held a series of ‘Green Conversations’ in our local areas with local communities, which highlighted that water and water quality were high on the list of public concerns.

Pollution, loss of biodiversity and lack of public awareness were strong contributing themes that were raised across the county.

Our research shows that every constituency in Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull had a waterway with an ecological water quality status of ‘poor’, based on the Water Framework Directive mechanism, with three of our constituency waterways also classed as ‘bad’.

This means that activities such as pollution, habitat destruction or altered water flows have had such impact, that these water bodies are far from their natural, healthy state.

The evidence speaks for itself – our local rivers are no longer places that are nurturing our wildlife, or that are safe for people to enjoy.

This is an environmental crisis that you have told us you want to see urgently resolved, and we are here to help.

How can I get involved?

Everyone is invited to get involved with the Wild for Water campaign and we will be hosting a variety of events, talks, activities, and actions to help illustrate the importance of clean water for both people and wildlife. Whether that be through practical work and volunteering, sharing stories and creating art, or campaigning and engaging with activism exercises

• We’ll be hosting a variety of craftivism (crafting and activism) workshops, to help you talk to local decision makers in a creative way and be part of an art exhibition.
• Take part in one of our ‘Paint and Sip’ events throughout the year and share your feelings for the future of our clean water through art.
• Talk to your local MPs and councillors and tell them why clean water and water scarcity is an important topic that you want to see them act on.
• Join one of our volunteer teams and help us take care of one of our local rivers, like the Cole, the Tame or the Sherbourne.
• Learn more about the water cycle process and how your personal water usage may be contributing to water pollution or scarcity in the local area. How can a household’s water tap be clean and drinkable, but the river nearby is polluted.
• Check out our five individual actions you can do to help us make a splash for cleaner water.

Do you know what beautiful wildlife lives near you?

Take a look at this wonderful collection of photos taken by locals of the incredible wildlife found in our rivers and lakes in Warwickshire, Coventry, and Solihull. 

Just click on each picture to find out what species it is and some interesting facts about it