Spending time on our rivers can be both magical and life-changing – it certainly was for me! As a Blue Health Coach, Paddle Board Instructor and Regional Representative for Surfers Against Sewage (a marine conservation charity), I have a deep appreciation for our waterways and all of their wondrous healing powers. So much so, that this year I joined the team to help run SUP & Soul Water and Wellness Nature Retreats.

Our rivers are vital, not just for the wildlife that depends on them, but for the communities that surround them and for our own personal wellbeing, too. They mean so much to me, that I wanted to share my love for our rivers with you – plus a few of my favourite local spots, and some handy tips on how you can help protect them from the many threats they face today.

Why I Love Rivers

Let me paint you a picture. Imagine floating along the river on a quiet stretch, watching the birds soar above and the fish leap from the water. For me, this is like no other form of therapy. It brings me back into my body, into the ‘here and now.’ I can think more clearly. Now, throw in the community and the smiles of fellow water users; dogs getting excited as they find ‘the best stick ever’ and ducklings darting about – what’s not to fall in love with?

Clare Osborn is a Blue Health Coach and Paddleboard Instructor

We Depend on Our Rivers

Brighton is a coastal city, so it’s easy to forget the inland water sources that connect our towns and villages to our ocean. Yet, our ocean is reliant on healthy rivers, which means we are too. Did you know that over half of the oxygen in the air we breathe comes from our ocean? You see, rivers play a huge part in the health of our blue planet.

Blue spaces, like rivers, also help us to relax and unwind; enabling us to regulate our nervous system and reduce stress. Rivers are, therefore, part of our human ecosystem; providing drinking water, biodiversity and, in turn, resilience to climate change.

Paddle boarder on the River Adur — **Happy paddlers on the River Adur**

Find Your ‘Blue Mind’ on Local Rivers

If you’re a local to Brighton and Hove, you’ll be pleased to know that we have several nearby waterways that are easily accessible for walking, swimming, boating and paddle sports – hurray!

All of these activities help us to access ‘blue mind’ – a term coined by marine biologist Wallace J Nicholls. It describes the mildly meditative state we fall into when we’re near, in, on or underwater. It’s the antidote to the ‘red mind’ which is the anxious, over-connected and over-stimulated state that defines the ‘new normal’ of our modern, busy lives. Sound familiar?

There are some wonderful local ‘blue spaces’ that many have deemed important, including Barcombe Mills, Cuckmere Meanders and the Adur Estuary. All of which are found on our two main local rivers: the Ouse and the Adur.

The Ouse

Since the late 1800s, this river has been largely transformed into a canal. Here, you’ll find many locks and weir structures that alter the river’s course; making it deeper, straighter, and easier to navigate. These non-tidal parts make it really accessible. While tidal areas at Barcombe Mills are popular swim and launch spots.

You can easily walk the entire length of The Ouse, exploring Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) along the way. I’ve paddled it several times and, as it’s mostly non-tidal, it’s a great location for a paddle clean-up – if you’re so inclined! If you do, though, be sure to carry out full risk assessments, check the water flow, your ability and the weather too.

A man and a woman stand up paddling on a river — **Paddlers are encouraged to enjoy wildlife from a distance**

The Adur

Ah, the pretty River Adur. One of my favourite SUP locations and an ideal place to learn to paddle, away from the crowds and nestled amongst nature’s finest. This tidal river has historically been an important feature of the south coast. Much of the estuary salt marsh is owned by the RSPB, which has a wildfowl reserve on the River. These salt marshes are vital carbon sinks and rare ecosystems, designated as an SSSI, which means it needs to be protected.

This river is not only a stopping point for migratory and over-wintering birds, but a habitat of scarce and fragile plant life. Paddlers are helping to safeguard this very special part of the river by avoiding the mudflats and only using designated access points. By making ‘green choices’ and enjoying wildlife from a distance, you’ll encourage other people to do the same – helping nature recover and thrive.

A Lapwing bird on the river Adur — **Lapwing on the River Adur**

A Whimbrel bird on the river adur — **Whimbrel on the banks of the River Adur**

Tony Benton, of Shoreham District Ornithological Society (SDOS), has led awareness sessions on the water and created a guide to responsible paddling. I joined one in the summer and would absolutely recommend it if you intend to use the estuary, which you can do via the Shoreham Yacht Club. Tony’s been hugely encouraged by the response from the paddleboarding and kayak community, and has said: “small changes can make a big difference when it comes to avoiding disturbance to wildlife.” The goal is to balance recreation with conservation objectives - something that Tony believes is entirely possible.

Tony Benton on a boat teaching paddlers about the SSSI — **Tony Benton teaching paddlers about the SSSI**

The Problems Facing our Rivers

Sadly, our rivers face a number of threats. The Rivers Trust have reported, in fact, that not one of England or Wales’ Rivers is in good health. As our population grows, so does our demand for our rivers, as we pump water for use in our homes, businesses and agriculture.

Once used, the treated wastewater often returns to our rivers, filled with harmful chemicals. In heavy rains, our current infrastructure can’t support the volume. And, often, raw sewage is pumped into the waterways, including the rivers and sea. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the added threat of climate change means we’re also seeing more unpredictable weather. More rain leads to more flooding and (unless infrastructure is improved) more sewage in our waterways.

Once rubbish finds its way into our rivers, it either:

becomes stuck in the river, causing problems for wildlife

breaks down into harmful micro-plastics which are pretty impossible to remove (you can find a lot of this in the mud on the tidal parts of both these rivers if you look closely)
washes downstream into the sea

Pollution in the river — **Sadly, pollution finds its way into our waterways**

And it gets worse. Our rivers are a major pathway for plastic reaching the sea. One study found that half of the freshwater invertebrates had microplastic inside them. Yes, you read that right – half! And the problem grows as it makes its way up the food chain. Some of these plastics come from littering, but a whole heap of it comes from wastewater effluent, as microplastic fibres are carried in our laundry water.

OK, I know this all sounds rather gloomy and - let’s face it - a little bit gross. But there’s still hope for change and SO much we can all do to help.

How to Save our Rivers

Here’s the light at the end of the tunnel. By bringing nature back into the heart of our towns, farms and even the edges of highways, we can start to rebuild a landscape that stores and slows the flow of water, and thrives with new habitats for wildlife.

Natural flood management (NFM) is one way that we can work with nature, restoring natural processes across the landscapes to reduce flood risk downstream. The Ouse and Adur River Trust is a local charity working tirelessly to do just that.

But businesses need to play their part too; leading the way for a sustainable future. The UN Sustainable Development Goal 6 gives a framework to commit to water stewardship strategies. It calls for businesses to know, measure and reduce their impact on water – both at their own sites and across their suppliers.

A person kayaking on the Adur estuary — **Paddling the Adur Estuary**

What Can You Do?

The amount of water you use in your home and garden impacts your local river. But, did you know that there are lots of other ways that you can impact rivers too? Everything we eat and buy will leave a ripple effect somewhere.

Here are some ideas from the Rivers Trust’s ‘State of the Rivers’ Report:

3 P’s – Only flush poo, pee and paper down the toilet.
Use energy and water-efficient appliances, phosphate-free detergents and soaps.
Put fat, grease and oil in the bin and not down the sink, to prevent blockages and overflows.
Buy food that’s local, seasonal, and certified for responsible production.
Make wise food choices (1 Kg of bread is 1,608 litres, whereas 1 Kg of beef is 15,415 litres!)
Avoid using chemical fertilisers and pesticides: we already see high levels of these products ending up in groundwater, drains and rivers.
Grow more varied plants in your garden, increase permeability with vegetation and avoid hard paving.
Use water butts to retain water or create a soak-away for rainwater. This helps to localise and re-naturalise our water cycle. Make sure butts are empty before large rain events, so you can increase the storage capacity in your catchment and help prevent drains from being overwhelmed.
Write to your MP on decisions that impact your local rivers and stand up for a cleaner environment.

A woman paddling on a reservoir surrounded by trees — **Let’s work together to preserve our wonderful waterways**

Want to Help Locally?

Why not join or support the RSPB and the Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust?

You can also support The Surfers Against Sewage team who have been working hard lobbying the Government to create solutions for cleaner and safer seas. Why not follow the Brighton Surfers Against Sewage Facebook page for updates on our campaigns, and opportunities to get involved with our work?

Want to take part in a paddle clean-up? I wrote the Paddle Cleanup Toolkit for British Canoeing’s Clear Access Clear Waters campaign. The toolkit includes lots of community and individual actions, as well as everything you need to do a ‘paddle cleanup’ yourself.

Rivers Are Important, Let’s Protect Them