Introduction

Bristol Living Rivers supports local river groups to improve their local rivers & streams & to raise awareness of Bristol's hidden urban waterways. The project also helps establish new river groups, providing support and help where needed.

The aim is to establish a diverse network of groups of people who would take an interest in, even improve, care for, research and enjoy their local rivers and streams. These might be pre-existing groups with a direct interest in rivers (e.g. Friends of the Frome) or an associated interest (wildlife, historical, community gardening, park group ...), schools, businesses or individuals. Of course there are some such as the Malago Valley Conservation Group that has been doing this for many years that are beacons to others.

The project ran a lively morning session at the CREATE Centre with river groups and other interested individuals to explore how we can achieve a citywide network of river groups. The Adopt-a-River workshop report  is available to download.

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South Bristol Riverscapes Project

The Bristol Living Rivers Project in conjunction with Network South Bristol, have recently been successful in securing funding from the Heritage Lottery to improve the rivers in the area.

The South Bristol Riverscapes Project will run until 2010 in partnership with three existing river groups based in South Bristol.

The Malago Valley Conservation Group, the Friends of the Avon New Cut , the Kingfisher Group & the Friends of Nightingale Valley will be working closely with the recently appointed Project Officer to increase the use of these waterway routes by people of differing abilities, to provide opportunities for learning, investigation, research, recording and enjoyment of the natural heritage through a variety of projects & activities.

There is also scope to establish two new river groups in the area.

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Community River Walks

The Bristol Living Rivers Project runs guided river walks in partnership with community groups along Bristol's hidden waterways, usually once per year.

Walks have taken place along rivers such as the Malago, Brislington Brook, Trym, Hazel Brook, Frome, Avon New Cut & the Colliter's Brook and have included informative talks along the way on wildlife, local history, drainage and local action.

This is an opportunity to find out more about Bristol's waterways and hear from the local river or environmental groups about what they are doing in the area and how to get involved.

If you would like to use the river walk leaflets, which include a map for the guided walks, these are available to download online on the riverside walks page.

Keep an eye on the website for up and coming walks in the future.

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River Group Information Pack

Bristol Living Rivers is currently producing an information pack for individuals who want to establish a river group in their area. The pack will include details and ideas of how to go about setting up a new group, how to write a constitution, how to apply for funding and top tips on organising litter clear ups,

The support guide will also contain useful information and fact sheets for established groups.

This resource is currently being put together and will be available online in 2008. Alternatively, if you are unable to download this information, please request a pack from the Bristol Living Rivers Project.

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Getting Involved

If you would like to get involved in any aspect of developing Adopt-a-River, however small please let us know.

For example you might like to form a new group, help to plan and write useful information for others, offer to be a mentor or river champion, write a case-study of a project / event you did to inspire others, offer kit that could be shared or ideas on how to develop and promote your local river or stream.

Please contact us on the details below.

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Contact Us

Contact
Bristol Living Rivers Project
CREATE Environment Centre
Smeaton Road
Bristol
BS1 6XN

Tel.0117 922 4452

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