Get River Positive
Our River Rangers, working locally to care for rivers
Find out more about your local River Rangers
Wonderful rivers transform the communities around them
We’re passionate about making a positive impact on the communities and the environment where we live and work.
Rivers transform the communities around them, and although we have improved the health of our region’s rivers significantly in the last 30 years, we recognise that as a sector there’s more we need to do to help our region’s rivers be the healthiest they can be.
Our business is effectively plumbed into our region’s landscape, our river health is essential not only to the communities we serve, but also to the success of our business too.
So, it makes sense for us to take a leading role in not only protecting them, but also going beyond that and enhancing them too.
"Shropshire Wildlife Trust pledged itself to the wildlife and natural environment of Shropshire and Telford 60 years ago, this has always been a journey undertaken in company. We are pleased to welcome the Get River Positive Pledges issued by our long term friends at Severn Trent Water. They have set themselves an ambitious set of targets, concern at river water quality is at an all-time high, our rivers are in trouble and we need this gearing up of key organisations such as Severn Trent Water to make that crucial difference and turn the tide. Clean water is a life giving essential, without it wildlife fails to thrive and life becomes impossible, there is much to do, so we at Shropshire Wildlife Trust support the Get River Positive Pledges and feel that maybe this is the corner being turned."
Getting River Positive
Our region’s rivers are the cleanest they have been since the 1980’s. There has been a dramatic reduction in pollution levels, and we have invested to help nature to thrive.
In 2021 we reintroduced several families of beavers in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire – for the first time in over 400 years.
Over the last 30 years we’ve reduced the level of phosphate and ammonia reaching our region’s rivers and as a result many rivers are in better health.
In the 1950s otters were common in Britain, but by the 1980s they were on the brink of extinction. Today otters are back in every county of England.
We know that we need to do more and we also need to play a leading role in helping others to make positive changes too.
Let’s be clear; Get River Positive is not just words. It’s not an ambition or an aspiration. It is a firm commitment. We’ve listened to both our customers, local communities and campaign groups and our five pledges are a result of these discussions.
Our five pledges are underpinned by a range of measures and metrics developed with partners and stakeholders, addressing our customers’ concerns and taking a leading role in ensuring that our region’s rivers are as healthy as possible.
PLEDGE ONE
Ensure storm overflows and sewage treatment works do not harm rivers
PLEDGE TWO
Create more opportunities for everyone to enjoy our regions‘ rivers
PLEDGE THREE
Support others to improve and care for rivers
PLEDGE FOUR
Enhance our rivers and create new habitats so wildlife can thrive
PLEDGE FIVE
Open and transparent about our performance and our plans