The Rivers Trust facts for kids

Prebends Bridge over the River Wear in Durham

Coracles on the River Teifi

Bridges over the River Tyne

The River Kennet

The River Dee, Wales

The River Trent in Nottingham

The Rivers Trust (RT) is a special group that helps protect rivers. It's an environmental charity, which means it works to keep nature healthy. The Rivers Trust is like a big team leader for over 60 smaller groups. These smaller groups are called 'member trusts'. They all care about rivers in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Ireland. The main office for The Rivers Trust is in Callington, Cornwall. Together, The Rivers Trust and its members work to protect and improve freshwater places. They do this for both people and the amazing wildlife that lives there.

How The Rivers Trust Started

The Rivers Trust began in 2001. Back then, it was called the Association of Rivers Trusts. It was started by four river groups. These were the Eden Rivers Trust, Tweed Foundation, Westcountry Rivers Trust, and the Wye and Usk Foundation. In 2004, the group officially became a registered charity. This meant it could get more support for its important work.

In Scotland, there's a similar group called the Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland (RAFTS). For Wales, there's Afonydd Cymru: The Rivers Trust of Wales (AC). These groups work in their own areas.

The Association of Rivers Trusts changed its name in August 2011. It became known as The Rivers Trust, which is its name today.

What The Rivers Trust Does

The Rivers Trust works with other important groups. They are part of Blueprint for Water and Wildlife and Countryside Link. These partnerships help them make bigger changes for rivers. The Rivers Trust also helps manage something called the Catchment Based Approach. This is a way for different groups to work together. They focus on whole river areas, from where the water starts to where it flows out. This teamwork helps make rivers cleaner and healthier for everyone.

Member River Groups

The Rivers Trust supports many local river groups. These groups work directly on rivers in their own areas. They help clean up pollution and improve habitats for fish and other wildlife. They also teach people about how important rivers are. Here are some of the groups that are part of The Rivers Trust family:

See also

• List of waterway societies in the United Kingdom
• List of navigation authorities in the United Kingdom
• Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland