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Afon Wygyr Project completes

The North Wales Rivers Trust (NWRT) has completed its latest phase of restoration on the Afon Wygyr, improving water quality, restoring habitat, and strengthening the local community’s connection to the river. This work, funded by Anglesey Council’s AONB Sustainable Landscapes Sustainable Places (SLSP) fund, marks the final year of a project aimed at tackling key pressures on the river and enhancing public access.

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Collaborating on strategy to tackle mining pollution

Last week, Rivers Trusts from across Wales met with the Minewater Remediation Authority and Natural Resources Wales to hear about their metal mines strategy which aims to minimise the impact of 129 historical metal mine priority sites in Wales – a major step in tackling approximately 1,300 known sites which currently cause around 700 km of Welsh rivers to fail to achieve ‘Good’ Water Framework Directive (WFD) status.


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latest Water Quality Assessments

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has recently published the latest water quality assessments for Welsh rivers, covering the period from 2020 to 2023. These assessments include both the nine Welsh Special Area of Conservation (SAC) rivers and the broader Water Framework Directive (WFD) results for all rivers across Wales.

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Dry STone Walling WOrkshops

Dry-stone walling is a traditional craft that has been practiced for centuries, with some walls in the UK dating back over a thousand years. Built without mortar, these walls rely on careful placement and interlocking stones for stability. They have long been used to mark boundaries, manage livestock, and protect crops from wind and erosion. Today, they remain an important feature of rural landscapes, offering both practical benefits and cultural heritage value.

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Reflections from the River Summit

Last night, we hosted our inaugural River Summit at Pontio in Bangor, and what an incredible evening it was! The event featured a diverse lineup of engaging talks, exploring both the challenges our rivers face and the inspiring efforts making a difference.

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Working with farmers on the llyn peninsula

The Llyn Peninsula is an area full of agricultural heritage which continues to this day. The North Wales Rivers Trust is now working to partner with local farmers on the Llyn to safeguard its waterways. Our current focus is on tackling excessive poaching which is riverbank erosion caused by livestock repeatedly entering the river along the Afon Soch.

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Our 2024 Impact Report

2024 was an incredible year for the North Wales Rivers Trust! Check out some of our key achievements in our 2024 Impact Report below.

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Interns Reflections on Nine Months with NWRT

Over the past nine months the North Wales Rivers Trust (NWRT) welcomed two interns to the team, providing valuable industry experience in river conservation, restoration, and community engagement.

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Tree Planting with Undeb Bangor

As part of our ongoing efforts under Project Swimways, we recently carried out a tree planting event along the Afon Braint, with a focus on improving river habitats and supporting migratory fish patterns. The event was made even more special by the enthusiastic participation of Bangor University students, who joined us during Undeb's volunteering week

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Creating a storybook with ysgol waunfawr

We recently had the exciting opportunity to run a story-making workshop with Year 1 & 2 pupils at Ysgol Waunfawr for Prosiect Torgoch. The children were full of creativity as they worked together to bring the story of the torgoch to life!

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Investigating the Impact of Floating Wetlands on Ynys Mon

As part of our Floating Wetland project, funded by local nature partnerships, we recently carried out an exciting study to assess the ecological impact of our wetlands at Llyn Maelog, Rhosneigr, and Llyn Penrhyn, RAF Valley.

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North Wales rivers Trust River Summit

The North Wales Rivers Trust is excited to announce its inaugural River Summit. This event aims to unite innovative thinkers, wild water enthusiasts, passionate academics, and river lovers to shape the future of North Wales' rivers.

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Living sea walls school workshop

As part of our Living Sea Walls project, we’ve had the pleasure of delivering hands-on workshops to primary schools near the Menai Strait. These sessions are all about connecting young people to their local marine environment and sparking curiosity about how we can better coexist with nature.

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eDNA testing Confirms Arctic Charr Spawning in afon Fachwen

Arctic Charr (Salvelinus alpinus) are remarkable fish that thrive in the cold, clear waters of Llyn Padarn. However, like many species, their spawning behaviors are vulnerable to environmental changes. While Afon y Bala is a well-documented spawning site, the role of other tributaries has remained unclear.

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Tackling Invasive Species on the Afon Clwyd

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the Clwyd INNS Project, an exciting initiative focused on managing invasive non-native species (INNS) in the upper section of the Afon Clwyd, from Clocaneog Forest to Ruthin.

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Top Tips For Supporting RIvers in 2025

At the North Wales Rivers Trust, our mission is to protect and enhance the conditions for all life that depends on rivers—because, in truth, all life depends on rivers.

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Citizen Science Surveying: Torgoch spawning

Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus), known locally as "Torgoch" due to the vibrant red-orange hues of their spawning males, are one of North Wales’ most iconic yet elusive freshwater fish. Found in only a handful of deep, cold lakes across the UK, these remarkable fish have become a symbol of conservation efforts in our region.

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Floating Wetland Monitoring Session

Join us on February 4th for an evening monitoring session as part of the Floating Wetland Project where we will be using microscopes to count zooplankton.

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