Following the success of three River Festivals and Summits in 2022 and 2023, and amid growing public concern about the state of our waterways, our good friend Claire Zambuni’s exciting new river collaboration event is back again in 2024… and it’s bigger and more ambitious than ever.
For an occasion that’s intended to bring diverse communities together for the benefit of their local rivers, we reckon there couldn’t be a more inspiring location than Morden Hall on the banks of the River Wandle in south London: a unique urban chalkstream that was declared biologically dead less than 50 years ago, but is now brimming with life again, including a thriving population of wild trout (and even a recently-captured salmon!)
From what we’ve heard, the lineup of speakers and brands supporting this year’s UK River Summit just keeps getting more and more stellar, but here are some of the latest highlights:
- Speakers including Bella Davies and Jack Hogan (South East Rivers Trust), Shaun Leonard (Wild Trout Trust), Penny Gane (Fish Legal), Feargal Sharkey, Jim Murray and Bobby Dean
- Film showings such as Wandle, River at Risk; Black Samphire; This is Shit; Fish Legal; and Hydrotherapy
- Discussion panels on subjects like the freshwater emergency, effecting policy in rivers, the future of farming, the River Wandle’s history, and a cross-party discussion on water security with leading politicians
- Support and activities with the National Trust, RS Hydro, South East Rivers Trust, Fish Legal, Orvis UK, River Action UK, Surfers Against Sewage, YETI, Filson, the Wandle Piscators, the Wandle Industrial Museum, Delivita, Lakedown Brewing Co, and Abel & Cole
Claire says: “Morden Hall, London, situated on the River Wandle, is a fitting venue to host a Summit about the state of our rivers in the UK, as it is a location which serves as a reminder of how nature, river wildlife, and urban life can peacefully coexist. It is also perfectly positioned as an accessible oasis in a bustling city, meaning we are able to welcome a much wider audience to this event. We invite the public to learn first-hand the issues our rivers are facing and distil our anger to make a positive change.”
In short, if you can arrange to be anywhere near the Wandle for the UK River Summit on 21 May, click here to book your ticket via Orvis now!
(Photos: Zambuni Communications)
