Our Position

© Rodney Egglestone

We believe that healthy rivers and wetlands are essential for nature’s recovery, climate resilience, and the health and wellbeing of people.

We will work with our supporters, partners, and the wider network of regulators, representatives and stakeholders to campaign:

  • To improve water quality by tackling agricultural runoff, sewage discharges and urban pollutants, and supporting blue/green infrastructure;
  • For legally-binding, locally-targeted improvement plans, which aim for at least 30% of waterways in Sheffield and Rotherham on their way to reaching good ecological and chemical status by 2030;
  • For more integration of river-health criteria and catchment-scale approaches in local planning policies, ensuring floodplain development is sustainable and mitigating the impact on riparian zones (i.e. wetlands adjacent to rivers and streams). 

We will:

  • Oppose harmful development and push for buffer zones around waterways;
  • Raise awareness of the impacts of modifications on natural processes and aquatic habitats, and offer solutions;
  • Engage and empower communities by supporting citizen science (i.e. wildlife surveying) and nature connection;
  • Work with partners to identify and fill gaps in data and evidence in Sheffield and Rotherham.
Kingfisher perched on a branch
© Kingfisher, credit John Leigh

Living Waters Campaign Updates

Keep updated on what we’re doing to bring people together to influence change and help our rivers and wetlands across Sheffield and Rotherham to become cleaner, well cared for and rich in wildlife.