Running for rivers: The Rivers Trust Chief Executive takes on ultramarathon challenge on Big River Watch weekend

On Saturday 20th September, Mark Lloyd will run 43 miles along the River Exe to raise funds for The Rivers Trust’s work in improving river health across the UK and Ireland. The run, known as the Salmon Run, will coincide with the Big River Watch, a nationwide citizen science survey taking place over the same weekend.

The Salmon Run follows the course of the River Exe, starting at the sea in Exmouth to the spawning grounds on Exmoor, mirroring the upstream migration made by Atlantic Salmon. The route ends in Dulverton, where Mark will be greeted by a party of supporters.

Atlantic Salmon, like many other freshwater species, have been affected by ongoing pressures and have experienced population declines of around 80% in the last 40 years. They are an indicator species that reflects the health of the water bodies they rely on; their increasing absence from rivers once famous for their high salmon numbers highlights just how much needs to be done to improve and restore these critical natural environments.

Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of The Rivers Trust, is a keen angler with a lifelong passion for rivers and has witnessed the plight of this iconic species in recent decades. Mark said: “Atlantic salmon go on an incredible journey, swimming from the headwaters of rivers like the Exe, out to sea and as far as Greenland, and then back again to spawn in the same shingle banks where they emerged from their own egg. However, their journey is increasingly threatened by warming waters, pollution, habitat loss and man-made barriers that block their path.

“As I run alongside the route that salmon travel upstream, I’ll experience firsthand the challenges they face, not just the huge distance but also the weirs and dams that stand in their way. I aim to highlight the perils faced by these iconic and endangered species whilst raising vital funds to help support restoring healthy rivers that are so crucial to their survival.

“I’m working hard to get my ageing body into shape for this ultramarathon. The furthest I have ever run is about 15km when I was 15, about 40 years ago, so I’m pretty daunted by the prospect but know that the cause is worth it.”

The challenge takes place during the Big River Watch, where The Rivers Trust once again calls on members of the public to contribute to river health monitoring across the UK and Ireland by completing a short visual river survey in the free Big River Watch app. This autumn, the survey is open from the 19th to 25th September 2025. The data collected contributes to a broader understanding of river conditions, supports decision making, and encourages the public to spend time in natural spaces.

Mark Lloyd added: “Increasingly, more people are concerned with the health of our rivers and want positive action taken on these important spaces. By contributing either your time to collecting valuable data to the Big River Watch, or by donating to our Salmon Run fundraiser, your support will bring us one step closer to achieving wild, healthy, natural rivers valued by all.”

How to support The Rivers Trust this September:

• Donate to the Salmon Run: Mark Lloyd's Salmon Run for The Rivers Trust - JustGiving

• Sign up and take part in the Big River Watch: The Big River Watch | The Rivers Trust