Hereford ~ River City

View of river with cathedral and other buildings on far bank

Hereford~River City

Hereford ~ River City is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and aims to transform Hereford City's waterways and surrounding habitats into spaces where wildlife thrives, and people feel connected to nature and their communities.

Hereford’s waterways have shaped the city we see today. Historically, the River Wye was a key transport route for trade, and both the river and the city’s brooks powered mills, supported wildlife, and offered interesting places for adults and children to explore.

In the past, water levels in the brooks were more stable, wildlife was more abundant, and people spent more time playing and working in and alongside the city’s brooks.

Today, many of the brooks are overlooked, difficult to reach, and, at times, are struggling to sustain life. Issues include historic canalisation, litter, overgrowth, poor water quality, invasive non-native species, and the increased occurrence of extreme weather events linked to climate change.

River City will restore existing brooks and create new wetland areas across Hereford. With the aim of improving and connecting habitats for wildlife, uncovering and sharing the social history of these waterways and supporting everyday access to these spaces across the urban landscape.

The project has received initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for a 15-month development phase, which began in Spring 2026. During this time, we’re carrying out a whole host of surveys to better understand the brooks and the surrounding areas, speaking to people across the city about how they'd like to get involved and what they’d like to see happen and creating designs and plans for our restoration work. Following this, the project will seek further funding to deliver the work over three years.

Restoring Hereford's waterways for wildlife

In the development phase, the River City team are undertaking baseline surveys to inform the design of habitat and infrastructure improvements including:

Re-naturalisation of watercourses through adding bends and wiggles, restoring eroded banks and adding leaky dams, and creating refuges for fish and aquatic plants such as pools and riffles.
Improving habitat on green spaces alongside the brooks by clearing scrub and brambles, planting native trees and hedgerows and sowing wildflowers.
Installation of refuges for wildlife including otter holts, bat and bird boxes, pollinator strips, and log piles.

Uncovering and sharing the social histories of Hereford's waterways

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust and Herefordshire Lore have partnered on this project to build an oral archive of everyday stories from local people, keeping important memories alive for future generations.

They are conducting oral history interviews with local people who have lived, worked or played beside the brooks as well as researching beyond living memory to past centuries when the brooks running through the city were vital for industry, transport and for play.

Connecting people of all ages and backgrounds to these environments

River City will work with stakeholders across the city to support people to connect to Hereford's blue and green spaces . This will include:

A huge range of ways for people across the city to get involved with the project from practical volunteering, mental health and wellbeing activities, WildPlay and workshops.
Improved accessibility, including new benches, improved paths and ‘wetland wildlife zones’ as well as interpretation installations and plaques,
Working with schools, colleges, arts and history organisations, to develop programmes of participatory events and activities.

Get Involved!

The River City team are currently working on a variety of ways to get involved with the project, including volunteer roles, events and activities.

If you are interested in keeping up to date with opportunities to get involved, watch this space for volunteering roles, events and activities, or complete the form below to be added to our mailing list:

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Contact us

Eva Basnett, Community Officer: e.basnett@herefordshirewt.co.uk

Herefordshire Lore:

Email: info@herefordshirelore.org.uk

Phone number: 07989 733870

Postal address: Herefordshire Lore, c/o The Pavilion, Castle Green, Hereford. HR1 2NW

Hereford ~ River City is a partnership project led by Herefordshire Wildlife Trust in partnership with Herefordshire Lore.

It is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund with additional funding from the Environment Agency's Water Environment Improvement Fund (WEIF).