It's very apt to be sharing this episode on Valentine's Day as we are joined by someone who has a lifelong love of water, and protecting it, Chris Hines MBE. Not afraid to speak out for environmental causes, Chris co-founded Surfers Against Sewage and we learn about his achievements while there. Plus we hear about his work on sustainability in the early years of The Eden Project, his public speaking and his new project, A Grain of Sand. Chris shares his views on activism, politics, water...

We are joined for our first Confluence podcast in our 30th anniversary year by Merlin Hanbury-Tenison from The Thousand Year Trust. The charity is dedicated to bringing Atlantic Temperate Rainforests to life across the south west and the UK. Merlin shares his passion for this type of forest and the benefit to the health and well being of both ecosystems and humans they provide. We learn the fascinating fact that the ancient woodland on the land where he grew up on Bodmin Moor is around 3 to...

In the latest Confluence podcast, host Josie Purcell chats with Stu Pearce about his involvement with Westcountry CSI and living with MS (Multiple Sclerosis). Learn more from Stu about how his river monitoring activity motivates him, plus his plans to convert his bike to carry his monitoring kit. You'll also hear about his band, aptly named for this podcast, No Ordinary Fish. For MS support, please visit: mstrust.org.uk mssociety.org.uk overcomingms.org You can also read Stu's blog for...

In this epsiode, we speak to Lily Khandker, Head of Operations for Black 2 Nature. Black 2 Nature is a charity that works tirelessly to promote cultural change in the environmental sector, across the Westcountry. Focusing on topics such as environmental education and justice, we delve into the barriers that exist for minority groups in the environmental sector, and discuss the importance of connecting young people with blue and green spaces. Rivers are for everyone to enjoy, so listen in...

We're speaking salmon for this episode of the Confluence podcast, specifically the Salmon Run taking place on Sunday 24 September on World Rivers Day. Hear from Jo Salter and Anne-Marie Culhane, artists and directors of the Exe estuary-based community arts and science Tidelines CIC as they tell us about their exciting Salmon Run event. Celebrating the connection between the river and the sea and the life of the iconic Salmon, people can learn more about this fish and wider environmental...

In this episode, Sophie Pierce lets us in on the magic of wild river swimming. As the author of three wild swimming guides, Sophie Pierce has ample experience of wading through Westcountry waters and is keen to share her river stories and wisdom with us. Check out her books, including her newest release, The Green Hill, at www.sophiepierce.co.uk. If this episode leaves you inspired to take a dip in your local river, make sure to check out our statement on wild swimming at...

We are honoured to chat with first-time children's book author and marine biologist with Natural England, Angela (Angie) Gall. Angie (and her employer's) are kindly donating the sales of her fabulously written and beautifully illustrated book about an elusive fish to our charity. Listen along to learn about the life of Allis the Shad Who Wouldn't Give Up from the Tamar river to the sea and all the trials and tribulations this species must face and overcome. You can join us on 8 June 2023...

As our #BringingRivers2U campaign gains pace, this month we have a fabulous chat with Katy Lee who has created the wonderful Going on Taw storytelling project. There will be poetry, film, river travels and even underwater sound recording made in collaboration with communities and the River Taw. You can discover more at couragecopse.co.uk, via Facebook at Courage.Copse.Creatives and Instagram at couragecopsecreatives. If you have a story to share about this iconic Devon river, do please share...

As we launch our charity's latest campaign Bringing Rivers to You to help connect and reconnect people to their rivers and freshwater habitats, it's fabulous to chat with our citizen science and volunteer coordinator Jack Middleton about why water environments are important to him and to our volunteers. You'll discover more about the value of our citizen scientists' contributions to river health science and understanding and why taking part is beneficial for many different reasons. Jack also...

Vicky Whitworth is a long-term volunteer of the WRT Citizen Science Investigation (CSI) scheme and co-founder of the Chardstock Eco Group. In this episode, Vicky shares her journey into river restoration and views on how citizen science schemes can shape the future of conservation.  You can find her grassroots organisation online at https://www.facebook.com/groups/chardstockecogroup/ to stay up-to-date with all their fun and inventive eco activities. If this podcast has you eager to test...

Listen in to learn more about our CEO Dr Laurence Couldrick, including his hopes for the region's rivers and his favourite places to enjoy freshwater habitats. And, if you'd like to share your love of rivers with us on the podcast or would like to suggest someone we chat with, email [email protected] - you can find out more about our charity at wrt.org.uk too.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/confluencewrt/message

Find out about our Girls Go Fishing project, funded by the National Lottery, This Girl Can and Sport England, from our rivers and fisheries officer, Mia Bryant. The project is supporting women (18+) to try out fishing...for free.  If you've always wanted to give it a go, we have 10 places at two venues in Somerset this August. Listen along and then head over to wrt.org.uk/project/girls-go-fishing for all the info and to reserve your place.  And, if you'd like to share your love of rivers...

In this episode, Westcountry Rivers Trust's Confluence podcast host Josie Purcell chats with Brigit Strawbridge Howard. Brigit is a passionate environmentalist, committed to giving back to the natural world. Learn more about her love for bees and dippers and her joy at monitoring her local streams and rivers as one of our Westcountry CSI citizen scientists. Her enthusiasm for nature is infectious, and she encourages us all to to take the time to notice our natural surroundings and get to...

In the first Westcountry Rivers Trust Confluence podcast, host Josie Purcell chats with the charity's volunteer vlogger Emily Hardisty about why she loves freshwater wildlife and habitats so much. Find out about Emily's passion for learning and communicating all things river-related and keep up to date with her river journey at https://www.instagram.com/wildlingcreature/ You can celebrate your Westcountry rivers this festive season too. Be #RiverRevellers with us and find out how you can...

Welcome to Westcountry Rivers Trust's Confluence podcast. We'll be chatting to guests about why our region's freshwater environments matter to them and taking a look at the science that underpins river health; life in, on and along our waterways; how we can all play a part in caring for our rivers and all they support; the enjoyment and wellbeing benefits they provide and much more. Join us for our first episode on 1 December 2021 as we find out why rivers mean so much to our volunteer...