The environment in April

A new alternative to elastane, swimming medals made from drinks cans and a toolkit for protecting your local river – Environment Editor Jo Tinsley reports on the things that matter to us as swimmers

The River Rescue Kit

Britain’s rivers are in crisis. But even with the steady stream of news on sewage spills, agricultural runoff and water scarcity pushing our once thriving waterways to the brink, it can be hard to know where to begin to protect your local river or to make an impact on a nation-wide level. Which is one of the reasons why River Action has launched a toolkit designed to give us the knowledge, tools and resources to protect and campaign for our local rivers. The River Rescue Kit is an online microsite packed with resources help us understand the key issues our rivers face and connect with community groups across the country.

Here you will find a guide to testing your river, to collect essential data and to drive change; legal guidance, so you can understand your rights and how the law can be used to pressure polluters; fundraising strategies; and campaigning and media tips to get your message heard loud and clear.

Perhaps one of the most interesting parts of The River Rescue Kit is the Community Map, an interactive map where you can connect with groups in your area already taking action or find support for your own campaign. Finally, there’s a host of community films and success stories to learn from others already taking action.

Explore the River Rescue Kit at kit.riveractionuk.com

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Green snapshots

A new alternative to elastane

While elastane (or spandex) makes up just 2% of most garments, over 80% of all clothing
contains it, which makes a big impact as it’s derived from fossil fuels. Developed by Yulex, new innovation YULASTIC® is a fine, natural filament harvested from rubber trees that’s set to shake up the fashion industry in 2025.

Medals crafted from trash

In 2025, medalists at the World Aquatics Championships and World Aquatics Masters Championships will receive medals crafted from recycled aluminium cans. The ‘Trash to Treasure’ initiative will transform around 100,000 cans into 5,000 medals.

Precious seagrass

Last year, the Marine Conservation Society protected and restored 123 hectares of seagrass. After the ocean protection charity installed 17 Advanced Mooring Systems, seagrass density in Cawsand Bay, Plymouth increased by 212%.

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The Rivers Trust on the importance of local knowledge

The human tendency to take things for granted sadly means we often don’t think of the nature around us as being significant, especially in the UK where nature connectedness is lacking.

Despite being one of the most nature deprived countries in Europe, the UK is home to globally rare and important species and habitats, such as the endangered freshwater pearl mussel (pictured) and more than three quarters of all chalk streams. The Rivers Trust works hard to protect these and recognises the importance of global knowledge sharing in doing so. In January, we were part of the Wild Salmon Connections conference, where speakers from Scandinavia and North America provoked new perspectives and solutions.

This month, we host our annual conference on bluegreen algae, where wisdom from other countries will be just as important.

Words: Rebecca Duncan, The Rivers Trust

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Champion of the waterways: Megan Ruth-Trump, poet, campaigner and river wife

In June 2023, Megan Ruth-Trump married the River Avon in an attempt to achieve personhood status for the water and to raise awareness about untreated sewage being pumped into the waterways. The ceremony is captured beautifully in the indie documentary Rave On For The Avon.

Although one cannot legally marry something that’s not human in the eyes of the law, the ceremony sought to move the Save Our Avon campaign closer to achieving “personhood status” for the Avon, so the river can have the same rights as some large businesses and corporations.

In recent years, the idea of giving protection to rivers and other ecosystems by providing them legal personhood has gained momentum internationally, although this is the first time something similar has been attempted in the UK.

In February this year, Lewes District Council has taken steps to protect the River Ouse in a similar way, marking a potential precedent for river protection. Led by the Love Our Ouse project, the initiative seeks to establish a Charter granting the River Ouse fundamental rights based on its intrinsic value such as the “right to exist in its natural state” and the “right to be free from pollution”.

Follow @mrs_meg_avon and @raveonfortheavon. Read more about Love Our Ouse at loveourouse.org