Think of it as a beaver-built wetland – just with much less chomping! To reconnect the Kit Brook to the land, our team implemented low-tech interventions like raising the riverbed with woody brash, hinging trees to mimic natural debris dams, and digging shallow scrapes to hold and slow floodwaters.

As late Spring sails into full-blown Summer we thought we’d give you a wee update before everyone heads off on a bonny holiday. You may have guessed, we’re going to Scotland where rivers run crystal clear (well some of them) and salmon leap.

Chair of the Friends of the River Axe, Vicky Whitworth, reflects on the recent Making Rivers Better event held Chardstock Village Hall and the important role volunteer groups are playing in improving the health of our local rivers.

Welcome to the April 2026 Friends of the River Axe (FORA) newsletter. There’s been a lot going on so let’s get straight down to business.

Welcome to our first Friends of the River Axe (FORA) e-newsletter.  You are receiving this email as you expressed a wish to be included in receiving such information following your interest/attendance at an event connected with FORA. We assume, therefore, that you care.

Only 14 per cent of England’s rivers have good ecological status, and the government has just, incredibly, allowed itself another 36 years to clean things up. Yet all is not lost: local citizen scientists are joining together to save streams, brooks, and rivers, and to start action now. Vicky Whitworth shares a tale of hope and love on the Kit Brook.

Trees, rivers, cake and Lego ticked a lot of people's boxes last Saturday in Chardstock, when about 300 flocked to the River Café and Tree Giveaway.

Three Devon-based volunteers with Westcountry Rivers Trust (WRT) have been recognised for their freshwater habitat conservation efforts in a national nomination scheme.