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On 17th October, WWF celebrated the opening of their ‘A river runs through it’ exhibition.

The spectacle includes a river through the Upper Waiting Hall – a busy thoroughfare for Members of Parliament – and collaborative artwork by local children and artist Layla Andrews. The exhibit will support a week of events that celebrate the UK’s unique rivers, asking politicians to support the restoration of our environment.

The interactive exhibit brings nature inside Parliament to highlight the issues that English and Welsh water systems are facing, such as growing pollution from rural areas and sewage run off. This is following the recent WWF report, Flushed Away, that found 80% of rivers in England and Wales are unhealthy, and up to 40% are polluted with sewage.

WWF Chief Executive Tanya Steele and MP Angela Smith spoke at the opening ceremony, joined by parliamentarians and people from across the country who care about improving the health of our rivers. The #NatureNeedsYou campaign has previously worked with local Angling Trusts and River Trusts to deliver events to promote the campaign. More than 4000 people in England and Wales have already written to their MP through a WWF email action.

Campaign Manager, Barbara Cornejo Sesnic, has commented:

“The wildlife that lives in our rivers is in crisis. According to the 2016 Living Planet Report, populations of river and other freshwater wildlife have declined by 81% since 1970, faster than any other species group on the planet, and 13% of freshwater species are threatened with extinction in the UK. Despite big improvements over recent decades, four out of five rivers in England and Wales are failing to reach the required health standards. This is a result of pollution from farms and sewage, and unsustainable abstraction.

“We greatly appreciate the Houses of Parliament hosting us and for so many members of parliament attending. This display places the environment firmly at the centre of the Brexit process and makes the health of our rivers an undeniable priority to everyone. The WWF is calling for the UK Government to place nature at the heart of politics, to restore and safeguard the environment for generations to come.”

NOTES TO THE EDITOR

[1]   The exhibit opening ceremony launches a week of engaging public events, hosted by WWF to celebrate our rivers. Later in the week Tanya Steele will be meeting with the Rt Hon Michael Gove to discuss the 25 year environmental plan, and how WWF can work with government and businesses to ensure sustainable policies are made for the benefit of future generations.

[2]   Together we must ensure protection of our rivers is not weakened as Brexit negotiations take place and make sure our voice is heard. The charity is encouraging the public to sign WWF’s email action, to be sent to their local MP, to show support, encourage political commitment and say why rivers are important to them.

https://www.wwf.org.uk/campaigns/nature-needs-you

Media Contact:

Tel: 01483 412383 | E-mail: press@wwf.org.uk

About WWF

WWF is one of the world’s largest independent conservation organisations, with more than five million supporters and a global network active in more than one hundred countries. Through our engagement with the public, businesses and government, we focus on safeguarding the natural world, creating solutions to the most serious environmental issues facing our planet, so that people and nature thrive. Find out more about our work, past and present at wwf.org.uk.