At the start of October we had the honor of speaking at the Ireland Stillwaters Conference in Einskillen -on behalf of Afonydd Cymru. Our CEO Laura gave a presentation about our Floating Wetlands project and how we work to bring people and nature closer together through a unique approach to community engagement in Wales.

This month, we wrapped up our in-river works just in time for the salmonid migration season. These efforts have been all about giving nature a helping hand—taking out barriers, improving fish passage, and enhancing habitats so our rivers can better support biodiversity.

Our River Champions Business scheme empowers businesses to take meaningful steps towards becoming more 'river-friendly.' By implementing straightforward changes, such as choosing safer cleaning products, reducing water consumption, and raising community awareness, businesses across North Wales are making impressive strides in supporting healthier rivers!

This week, we've installed a second floating wetland on Llyn Penrhyn near Holyhead. This is a great step forward in our mission to understand more about using natural solutions to improve water quality and biodiversity in North Wales.

As we are in our final stages of mapping out snorkel routes in North Wales, Oisin and Jack went to survey several of the sites in Anglesey.

On the 15th November we will be showing the first screening of Sean Harris' artistic portrayal of the Eryri Torgoch at Llyn Padarn.

'Heipolymnion' meaning the lower cooler layer of water, is an immersive animation experience that takes viewers deep down into the world of the Eryri Torgoch. This emotive piece, will be projected between the trees, highlighting the beauty of the Torgoch and their struggle for survival in a declining ecosystem.

In a world where conservation often competes for attention, it is through finding a new way to communicate that we manage to touch hearts and minds and inspire people to care deeply about the environment around them. Through art and storytelling, we can connect people to the beauty and vulnerability of nature and hopefully spark a passion to protect it.

In the picturesque rivers of North Wales, fish like salmon, trout, and eels embark on epic journeys, migrating upstream to spawn. But sometimes, man-made obstacles can throw them off course. One such barrier was a small weir on a tributary of the Afon Clwyd. Though upstream offered perfect habitat for these fish, the weir posed a big challenge, blocking some species completely and making life tough for others.

Since 2018, the North Wales Rivers Trust has been working to reduce agricultural impacts on the Afon Wygyr Catchment and the Cemaes Bay Bathing Water Zone. Our efforts have focused on improving water quality and protecting the local ecosystem from pollution through a series of different interventions.

The North Wales Rivers Trust is thrilled to recognise GreenWood Family Park as a Platinum River Champion for their incredible sustainability efforts. GreenWood is not just about fun—it’s about making a positive impact on the environment.

This week the team have been out on site testing the water in various locations as a direct result of increasing reports of toxic algae issues.

The North Wales Rivers Trust has recently started an exciting initiative to gather more data on the health of our waterways through setting up River Hubs to monitor aquatic invertebrates. In collaboration with the SmartRivers program by WildFish, we have established four new river hubs across the catchment area.

As part of Prosiect Torgoch, funded by the National Heritge Lottery we recently had the pleasure of working with the pupils of Ysgol Dolbadarn to create beautiful lanterns inspired by the torgoch (Arctic charr) of Llyn Padarn.

Over the past year, the North Wales Rivers Trust have been hard at work unlocking nature’s routes with four exciting projects aimed at helping migratory salmonids. Our team has tackled major obstacles in North Wales rivers, opening new pathways for atlantic salmon, sea trout, brown trout and eels as well as coarse (non-migratory) fish. These innovative projects—each a unique solution to a specific barrier—are already making a difference, with migratory fish able to access historic spawning grounds.

A few months ago, we proudly launched Lab Dwr, our citizen science initiative aimed at enhancing the understanding of freshwater ecosystems across North Wales. Since then, we’ve made significant progress in monitoring the health of our rivers, using a range of scientific tests to assess water quality and build a better picture of the health of our river systems.

The North Wales Rivers Trust have been busy creating 'Swimways' snorkel trails. As part of their ongoing efforts to promote the connectivity of freshwater and marine ecosystems, these snorkel trails will offer a unique, immersive experience to the public, allowing them to explore the hidden underwater world of rivers, lakes, and coastal areas. This initiative is a celebration of nature’s intricate water systems.

At North Wales Rivers Trust, we're passionate about restoring our rivers and ensuring the health of aquatic ecosystems. One of the challenges that our waterways face is the presence of man-made obstacles, such as weirs and dams, which severely hinder the movement of fish, cutting off vital migration routes and impacting the overall health of our rivers.

We've been hard at work developing snorkel trails across both Gwynedd and Ynys Môn, with several snorkel events taking place to upskill our community volunteers and scope out all the best spots.

This month, the Menai Strait Partnership team spread the message of our #LoveTheMenai campaign through the participation in several community events to raise awareness about the importance of the Menai Strait and the need to protect it.

In collaboration with artist Sean Harris the North Wales Rivers Trust are showcasing a unique art installation at a secret location near Llyn Padarn. This artwork, inspired by the iconic Eryri Torgoch, will demonstrate the need to improve habitat to help protect emblematic species like the Torgoch in a captivating and memorable way.