Recovering our Rivers: responsible river use

Organisation:  

British Canoeing 

The Paddlers Code | Respect, Protect, Enjoy. 

Paddlers’ Code General Poster & QR code: Paddlers-Code-Poster-Final.pdf (paddlerscode.info) 

Action:  

Use the Paddler’s Code as a guide to enjoy our beautiful waterways responsibly: Respect other people, water-users, and the countryside; Protect wildlife and habitats, and ‘Check, Clean & Dry’ equipment; Enjoy yourself by being prepared for the adventure. 

Location: 

All waterways in the UK. 

Level of commitment: 

A commitment needed, just implement when out on the water. 

Training required: 

Simply read through the Paddlers’ Code.  

Kit needed: 

No kit needed 

Outcome: 

The Paddlers’ Code is a simple set of good practice guidelines to follow when going out on the water, so that we can all enjoy our waterways responsibly and reduce our impacts on the landscape and wildlife. 

Organisation: 

GB Non-native species secretariat (NNSS) 

Check Clean Dry » NNSS (nonnativespecies.org) 

https://www.nonnativespecies.org/what-can-i-do/check-clean-dry/ 

Action: 

Check, Clean, Dry helps us to stop the spread of non-native plants and animals in our rivers. It is a widespread issue effecting most/all rivers in the United Kingdom. Plants and animals from all over the world have been introduced to British waters by people, usually accidentally. These are known as non-native species. Some of these non-native species have become invasive such as, Himalayan balsam. Over fifty different invasive freshwater species have already been found in our lakes, rivers and other waters. With the changing climate and increase of travel, these numbers are rising rapidly as they can be more adaptable to the changing climate. 

Invasive non-native species cause serious environmental problems that can be irreversible. The effects include but are not limited to: impacting water activities e.g. damaging boats; outcompeting native species; reducing biodiversity and increasing flooding. The invasive species can be small and hard to spot, make sure to follow this practice to ensure that you are doing everything possible to reduce non-native species.  

Check: Check your equipment, boat, and clothing after leaving the water for mud, aquatic animals or plant material. Remove anything you find and leave it at the site. 

Clean: Clean everything thoroughly as soon as you can, paying attention to areas that are damp or hard to access. Use hot water if possible. 

Dry: Dry everything for as long as you can before using elsewhere as some invasive plants and animals can survive for over two weeks in damp conditions. 

Location: 

UK wide, but can and should be widely practiced if going abroad. 

Level of commitment 

No commitment required, it should be undertaken when entering or exiting watercourses. 

Training required  

No training required, but it is recommended to read the guidance  

Invasive species to look out for » NNSS (nonnativespecies.org) 

Kit needed / provided 

Regular sterilising equipment - disinfect within 48 hours.  

Outcome 

Stopping the spread of non-native species can help in the efforts to manage them and restore our rivers. Ensuring that all of those who utilise the waterways follow the biosecurity protocols. This should improve the overall health of the ecosystem and the watercourse for all users. 

Organisation

Herefordshire Food Alliance  https://herefordshirefoodcharter.org.uk/ 

Action  

Buy Good Food Direct in Herefordshire: The Food Alliance supports farmers producing food in ways that sustain and build nature. This includes: using cover crops to reduce soil erosion, improving soil health through herbal pasture, and stopping the run-off of dangerous nutrients into waterways by planting 'buffer strips' of meadow. Examples of these farmers can be found here: https://herefordshirefoodcharter.org.uk/blog/local-food-and-drink-producers-herefordshire 

Make positive change through actively supporting farmers that are helping to tackle the issues affecting our rivers.  You will make a real difference to Herefordshire and beyond with your food purchases.  

You can also show your commitment to a better food system by signing the Good Food Charter - on the Food Alliance website and seeing who else is working for change too. 

https://herefordshirefoodcharter.org.uk/sign-the-charter 

Location 

Across Herefordshire 

Level of commitment 

Integrate into normal food shopping habits  

Training required: 

No training needed to purchase good food from good farms; a map is available. There are however many informative links to help us understand the challenges agriculture and rivers are facing.  

Outcome 

Conscientious buying can be very beneficial for the environment. Choosing food produced in a way that is sustainable and regenerative helps to keep our waterways cleaner.