What SUP with our rivers?
We believe that the best way to get to know the state of our rivers is to spend time around them.
Three women are taking this to a new extreme. Anneka (one of our fantastic data nerds), Bekki and Harriet are about to set off on an adventure. They’re using waterways to paddleboard all the way from Bristol to London!
11/09/21
The team want to raise awareness of the issues rivers are facing in the lead up to the release of our new report, the State of our Rivers. It's a deep-dive into the health of rivers across England, which--for the first time--will enable you to find out what's wrong with your local river, and how we got into this situation in the first place.
The team are planning to leave on Wednesday, 15th September from Bristol Harbour. They then plan to hit each of the following spots on the subsequent days—but have warned that this may vary according to (lack of) fitness, weather conditions, and other countless variables outside of their control.
Day 1 - Bristol Harbour to Saltford
Day 2 - Saltford to Avoncliff
Day 3 - Avoncliff to Little Horton (just outside Devizes)
Day 4 - Little Horton to Wootton Rivers
Day 5 - Wootton Rivers to Kintbury
Day 6 - Kintbury to Sheffield Bottom
Day 7 - Sheffield Bottom to Henley-on-Thames
Day 8 - Henley-on-Thames to Windsor
Day 9 - Windsor to Teddington or Richmond
Day 10 - Teddington or Richmond to Putney Bridge (or a more social paddle and litter pick on the Thames!)
The team are partnering with PROTEUS Instruments, whose state-of-the-art equipment will enable them to monitor water quality in real time. This means that while they paddle, they will be able to build up a comprehensive picture of river health.
They are also being supported by NRS Europe and Escape Watersports who have kindly provided both equipment and much-needed advice for the trip.
We would be really appreciative of any support you can offer to the SUPers along the way. If you would like to join in for a leg, offer some food, or give tips on where to stay, please get in touch!
