Confluence

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 sector polices and decisions, embedding the triple bottom line in business and more, but most importantly, how connecting with our rivers and seas can bring many benefits to us all.

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 4,000 years old; how these habitats sequester carbon and hold an abundance of biodiversity; and about the umbrella term 'temperate rainforests' and how they can differ globally but what trees and flora we are most likely to find in our region.

Merlin also shares his views on topics such as nature friendly farming; eco system services; agroforestry; the impact of non-native species on island environments; keystone species such as beavers; landscape recovery; and his charity's plans to create Europe's first temperate rainforest research centre at The Thousand Year Trust's HQ in Bodmin.

Listen along to find out more and visit the links below.

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 to hear how we can create a more diverse and inclusive future within nature.

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.

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 on Plymouth Hoe too as part of our #BringingRivers2U campaign as we help Angie launch the book.

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. 

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.

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.

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 know them.

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.

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 vlogger and biologist, Emily.