A groundbreaking new vision for rivers in England, released today by The Wildlife Trusts, Trent Rivers Trust and Intact Insurance, outlines how nature must be at the heart of plans to restore waterways across England in order to unlock significant economic, environmental and societal benefits.
Every £1 invested in restoring rivers could generate over £7 in benefits for nature, communities and the economy, first-of-its-kind analysis finds
Groundbreaking new river vision and economic analysis provides a blueprint for reimagining England’s rivers at scale
Published today, The Rivers 2040 Vision maps and assesses the impact of restoring the entirety of the River Trent - England’s longest river from source to sea - on nature, the economy and local communities. By reimagining how communities, businesses and land use can work together to bring the Trent back to health, the Vision provides a blueprint for restoring whole river systems across the country.
Ahead of expected Government reforms to the water system in England, and as drought, flooding, pollution and unequal access to nature intensify, the Vision also includes first-of-its-kind economic analysis. The findings reveal a substantial potential return from restoring the Trent; an estimated investment of £43 million a year over the next 30 years could generate approximately £10 billion in economic benefits, with every £1 invested in nature-led river restoration potentially delivering more than £7 in benefits.
Every £1 invested in nature-led river restoration could deliver more than £7 in benefits.
Yet, while the economic benefits of nature-led river restoration are staggering, the Vision argues that current efforts remain fragmented and underfunded. Instead, three key areas of change are needed to restore and recover the health of England’s rivers:
- Deploying nature-based solutions at scale: Nature-based solutions, including reconnecting floodplains, restoring wetlands and peatlands, nature-friendly farming and creating wet woodlands, will be critical to protecting homes, businesses and entire communities from worsening floods and water pollution. But to deliver the greatest benefits, these solutions need to be deployed at scale across whole river catchments.
- Growing local control of water: Responsibility for tackling the numerous threats to our rivers, including pollution and pressure on water resources, is fragmented, with no single body accountable for the health of our waterways. A catchment-scale approach, bringing together locally focused investment and expertise through powerful Regional Water Authorities as part of the Government’s devolution agenda, will be critical to tackling these threats and realising the full potential of rivers for communities, nature and the economy.
- A long-term water strategy that recognises nature as critical infrastructure: A nature-first approach to all new development, alongside flood risk management plans that put nature-based solutions at their heart, must be embedded in public policy to unlock investment, empower communities in decision-making and hold developers to account.
Rugeley Riverside Park © Staffordshire Wildlife Trust
Restored river channel - Victoria Ground © Staffordshire Wildlife Trust
Dr Rob Stoneman, director of landscape recovery at The Wildlife Trusts, says:
“From scandalous pollution to increasing flood risk, we know that people right across the country care deeply about the health of our waterways and want to see an end to the cocktail of threats facing them. The scale of the challenge is huge, but our new vision for rivers is a call to arms; there is an enormous prize to be won if we get this right.
“As our mapping of the River Trent proves, we must work together across whole catchments – and the communities, businesses and local authorities within them – to embed nature-based solutions into the heart of river restoration efforts. Only then, with national and regional policy recognising that nature is necessary to the health of our waterways, can investment in river recovery truly deliver greater climate resilience, local prosperity and bring wildlife back to our waterways.”
Across England, rivers are in dire health. Just 14% of rivers currently meet ecological health standards, and many have not improved since their condition was last reported on in 2019. The Government is also likely to miss legal targets to restore almost 80% of England’s waters by 2027, and 1 in 4 properties are predicted to be at risk of flooding by 2050 without action.
Yet, as the Vision demonstrates, naturally restoring rivers at scale, alongside changes to farming practices and working with industry to repurpose former power stations and gravel pits, is not only entirely possible, but also makes economic sense. Across the Trent’s 350km of catchments, floodplains and riverbanks, the benefits of nature-led restoration are real; from carbon sequestration and natural flood management to cleaner water, green job creation, and improved recreation and health outcomes.
Chris Reid, deputy senior vice president at Intact Insurance, says:
“As extreme weather becomes more frequent, we need to think differently about how we protect our communities. Restoring rivers, floodplains and wetlands can help manage water, reduce flood risk and make the places where people live and do business more resilient.”
“The Rivers 2040 Vision shows what is possible when we restore and protect nature at scale. By working with The Wildlife Trusts, we are helping to create healthier rivers that are better able to adapt to a changing climate and build more resilient communities.”
The Rivers 2040 Vision has been released today alongside an immersive new film, A River Speaks, exploring the cultural significance of rivers across the UK and the growing pressures they, and the communities who live and work alongside them, face. Voiced by Line of Duty actor Vicky McClure, the film follows the River Trent from source to sea, showcasing the conservationists, farmers, schoolchildren and communities working to restore its health and reconnect people with the river. Premiering at the Blue Earth Summit on Wednesday 14th October, the film will contribute to the national conversation about the future of our rivers and call on communities, businesses and policymakers to come together for a ‘great river reset’.
Editor's notes
- Read The Rivers 2040 Vision here
- Read the full economic analysis
- Find out more about the premiere of A River Speaks at the Blue Earth Summit here.
- Just 14% of rivers currently meet ecological health standards, and many have not improved since their condition was last reported on in 2019: New data to drive action to improve England's rivers and lakes - GOV.UK
- The Government is also likely to miss legal targets to restore almost 80% of England’s waters by 2027, as warned by the Office of Environmental Protection: OEP finds ‘deeply concerning’ issues with how the laws in place to protect England’s rivers, lakes and coastal waters are being put into practice | Office for Environmental Protection
- 1 in 4 properties are predicted to be at risk of flooding by 2050 without action: National assessment of flood and coastal erosion risk in England 2024 - GOV.UK
- Length of the River Trent: the Trent is 185 miles from the source at Biddulph Moor to Trent Falls, which is still 38.5 miles to the North Sea. From the source to the sea the Trent is 223.5 miles, making it the longest river in the country. It's the only river whose estuary is named differently to the river.