Rivers 2040 sets out an ambitious vision for the future of the UK's rivers: healthier catchments that support thriving wildlife, climate resilient communities and sustainable economic growth.
This prospectus brings that vision to life, showcasing investment and partnership opportunities from across The Wildlife Trusts that are ready to deliver measurable benefits for nature, climate, and people. These projects demonstrate the power of nature-based solutions to address some of society's most pressing challenges.
The River Trent case study identified that every £1 invested would return £7.33 in value.
For businesses, the opportunity is clear. As investment in nature-based solutions accelerates, driven by emerging regulation, reporting frameworks and growing public expectations around environmental performance, these projects provide a credible route to delivering meaningful outcomes while building long-term resilience and value.
The case for investment is compelling: analysis undertaken for Rivers 2040 found that a 30-year programme of restoration across the River Trent catchment would require £1.3 billion of investment but generate around £10 billion in economic benefits, returning £7.33 of value for every £1 invested.
Browse the project map
Browse our investable project opportunities
Restoring the Gowy Catchment: Cheshire Wildlife Trust
This project aims to restore the River Gowy catchment to a more naturally functioning river system.
Bar Brook: Derbyshire Wildlife Trust
Set within a landscape of open moorland and internationally important upland habitats, the project represents the first stage of a…
Woodlands for Watershed: Derbyshire Wildlife Trust
Woodlands for Watershed is a Derbyshire Wildlife Trust project
The Elk Returns: Derbyshire Wildlife Trust
This pioneering project will reintroduce elk into two existing large-scale beaver enclosures in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
River Erewash Natural Flood Management: Derbyshire Wildlife Trust
River Erewash Natural Flood Management is a Rivers 2040 project
Great North Fen: Durham Wildlife Trust
The Great North Fen Project will restore land between Newton Aycliffe and Sedgefield to create a connected wetland landscape of regional…
Hereford - River City: Herefordshire Wildlife Trust
This exciting project aims to establish Hereford as a “river city,” where nature thrives within a connected network of waterways,…
Restoring the River Rib: Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust
This project will restore 4km of the River Rib, a globally rare chalk stream, within the Chaldean Estate in East Hertfordshire.
Amwell Magna River Revival: Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust
This project includes the easement of a barrier to improve fish passage and strengthen the ecological connectivity of the river system…
River Rib Re-Naturalisation: Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust
This project will remove an outsized weir, fully restore fish passage and re-naturalise the chalk stream channel by replacing hard-…
Thames Catchment Community Eels Project: Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust
This partnership programme will improve migration routes for the European eel, an IUCN Red Listed species facing significant population…
Panshanger Park - River Mimram Restoration: Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust
Restoration and enhancement of approximately 2.5km of the River Mimram, a globally rare chalk stream, together with associated fen and…
Frogmore Hall: Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust
Located upstream of Hertford, Frogmore Hall offers significant opportunities to improve river and floodplain habitats while contributing…
River Beane Flagship: Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust
The River Beane is one of 11 national Chalk Stream Flagship Programmes established to deliver ambitious, catchment-scale restoration.…
River Glens Green Investment Zone: Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust
This project will work with landowners and partners to reconnect rivers and becks with the wider landscape, creating more space for…
Lower Ancholme: Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust
The project will increase water storage capacity across the lower Ancholme catchment, helping to manage flood flows during spate events…
Mid and upper Ancholme: Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust
This project will create a network of multifunctional habitat and water storage areas that slow and naturally filter water, reducing…
Wolds to the Coast Flyway: Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust
Taking a source-to-sea approach, this project will support nature recovery across the catchment while creating diversification income…
Rewilding Hillingdon: London Wildlife Trust
Applying rewilding principles in Hillingdon to support nature recovery, climate resilience and community wellbeing.
Rewilding Fairlop Plain: London Wildlife Trust
One of London's flagship urban rewilding initiatives, demonstrating how rewilding principles can be applied in Redbridge.
Hafren: Tir a Dŵr: Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust
Hafren: Tir a Dŵr is a landscape-scale programme focused on restoring wildlife, rivers and resilient landscapes across the Upper Severn…
Yare Valley Climate Resilience Programme: Norfolk Wildlife Trust
This project will deliver a landscape-scale climate resilience programme across the Yare Valley as part of the wider Wilder Claylands…
Alyn Catchment Living Landscape: North Wales Wildlife Trust
Building a thriving catchment where wildlife flourishes and people prosper alongside clean, healthy and resilient natural environments…
Whittle Dene Catchment: Northumberland and Cumbria Wildlife Trusts
Spanning the catchment from Hadrian's Wall at Whittle Dene to the North Tyne, this project will work with landowners, local…
Notts Water Vole Recovery - the Final Frontier: Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust
This project will create and restore ponds, wetlands and ditches across Nottinghamshire to support the recovery of water voles.
Bringing Back Beavers: Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust
This project will create and restore wet woodlands, willow carrs and other wetland habitats across the Humber River Basin to support the…
Worksop and Retford Natural Flood Management: Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust
This project will expand natural flood management (NFM) across the Ryton catchment to help protect communities in Worksop and the Upper…
Restoring the River Lugg: Radnorshire Wildlife Trust
Stretching from the source of the River Lugg to Leominster, this project will restore the Upper Lugg as a thriving nature corridor.
Connecting Limbs: Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust
This ambitious catchment-scale project will restore ecosystems across the entire River Sheaf.
Rother and Don: Flowing Futures: Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust
This ambitious project will protect and enhance natural heritage along the Rother and Don river corridors.
Severn Wetlands: Shropshire Wildlife Trust
The project will restore and reconnect wetlands across the River Severn corridor, creating wildlife rich habitats that help tackle…
Somerset Rivers Riparian Woodland Project: Somerset Wildlife Trust
Establishing permanent woodland corridors along up to 15km of riverbank through partnerships with more than 30 landowners.
Sandyford Natural Flood Management: Staffordshire Wildlife Trust
Part of Rivers 2040, this project will help reduce flood risk at source while delivering wider benefits for biodiversity, water…
Transforming the Trent Headwaters: Staffordshire Wildlife Trust
Covering 17,925 hectares at the source of the River Trent, this partnership-led programme is restoring the headwaters of England's…
Rugeley Riverside: Staffordshire Wildlife Trust
Rugeley Riverside is a Rivers 2040 project transforming 64 acres of former industrial land beside the River Trent into a thriving…
Trent ReNEW: Staffordshire University Grounds: Staffordshire Wildlife Trust
Delivered in partnership with the Environment Agency, Wild Trout Trust and Staffordshire University, this project is building on the…
Upper Blythe Restoration: Warwickshire Wildlife Trust
This project will develop a feasibility study for the upper River Blythe, from Hampton in Arden to its source.
River Bourne Restoration Plan: Warwickshire Wildlife Trust
This project will develop a comprehensive River Restoration Plan, identifying and prioritising opportunities for river and floodplain…
Nature4Water - Warwickshire Avon: Warwickshire Wildlife Trust project
An innovative landscape-scale programme that brings together nature recovery, water resilience and climate adaptation within a single…
Nene Valley Wetlands: Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs & Northants
Led by BCN Wildlife Trust, this project will restore and reconnect wetland habitats across the Nene Valley.
Chitterne Brook Restoration: Wiltshire Wildlife Trust
This project will re-meander approximately 3km of the Chitterne Brook, restoring historically straightened sections of channel and…
Wiltshire Rural Run-off Project: Wiltshire Wildlife Trust
Working with farmers, landowners and communities to reduce surface-water flooding by slowing the movement of water through the landscape…
Waderscapes: Wiltshire Wildlife Trust
Waderscapes is a five-year programme to create and reconnect wetlands across Wiltshire's working landscapes, helping reverse the…
Plain to Sea: Wiltshire Wildlife Trust
To connect nature recovery from the chalk landscapes around Salisbury through working farmland and river catchments to the Dorset coast…
Restoring the Torne: Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
Working with local farmers and stakeholders, this project will re-meander approximately 0.3km of Warmsworth Beck within the Torne…
St Catherine's Well Stream Enhancement - Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
This project will restore a section of St Catherine's Well Stream within the Torne catchment through re-meandering and channel…
Howbecks Dike enhancement: Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
This project aims to implement Natural Flood Management (NFM) interventions along Howbecks Dike.
Humberhead Peatlands restoration: Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
This project will improve water management across Hatfield Moor and parts of Thorne Moor through the installation and modification of…
Lowland Agricultural Peat Water Discovery Pilot: Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
This project will develop water level management plans that support peatland restoration and habitat enhancement
Old Moor Drain Hydrological Assessment Project: Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
This project will undertake a detailed assessment of the hydrology of watercourses around Hatfield Moor.