Morden Hall and The UK River Summit

The UK River Summit & Festival is set to take place at Morden Hall on the River Wandle, London, on the 21st May 2024. The event will bring together leading international environmentalists, businesses, individuals, brands, and members of the public who share a desire to work towards a more positive future for our rivers.

Claire Zambuni, Founder of The River Summit said, “We have gathered river people from all different walks of life and professions, enabling conversations and finding solutions. Being at the heart of the water quality debate in everything we do, we saw this as a valuable opportunity to open up this critical discussion to a wider audience. With so much anger and outrage in the media surrounding our waterways, we hope this event will not only facilitate lively debate but also collaborative discussion among different stakeholders, all of whom have a passion for our waterways. We invite the public to learn first-hand the issues our rivers are facing and distill our anger to make a positive change.” 

She continued, “Morden Hall, London, situated on the River Wandle, is a fitting venue to host a Summit about the state of our rivers in the U.K, as it is a location which serves as a reminder of how nature, river wildlife, and urban life can peacefully coexist. It is also perfectly positioned as an accessible oasis in a bustling city, meaning we are able to welcome a much wider audience to this event. We are grateful to Morden Hall for supporting the event and giving everyone a chance to be part of the conversation.” 

The Wandle is a tributary of the Thames to the southwest of London, consisting of 15 miles of rich chalkstream habitat in good condition, which in its industrial heyday, was the ‘hardest working river in London’, with over 90 mills along its banks throughout time. After being declared a sewer in the 60s and subsequent restoration work, The Wandle is now a much loved, healthier river home to a variety of species and anglers too.

The event offers the public insight into the expert voices behind the headlines, and the chance for campaigners, advocates, and conservationists to unify. Importantly, The River Summit & Festival promises to be a momentous movement, capturing the essence of community, culture, and environmental consciousness against the backdrop of our beloved rivers.

A panel of speakers will discuss various topics from water scarcity, agricultural and sewage pollution, the environmental impacts of industrial practices in the countryside, and much more, followed by a Q&A.

Jim Murray, Actor and Founder of Activist Anglers said “Initiatives like The River Summit are vital to the future of our rivers. Infusing the public’s burgeoning passion for our beloved rivers with the science of experts is the only way we’re going to save them for our children.”

There will be wild food, beverages, and workshops throughout the day. Event partners include Orvis UK, South East Rivers Trust, Lakedown Brewing Co., Filson, and Delivita, with more to be announced.

Dr Bella Davies, co-CEO of South East Rivers Trust said “We are excited to welcome the UK River Summit to the River Wandle in May 2024. The Wandle is an historic chalk stream at the heart of a diverse, vibrant community, and it’s especially poignant for the South East Rivers Trust as this is where we began our work 21 years ago. Since then, we've learned that engaging people with river habitats is key to protecting and restoring them. We look forward to supporting the event whole-heartedly.”

Crucially, The River Summit & Festival 2024 opens a door for the wider public to become an active part of the conversation around river health. With so much information on the topic being spread across the media, this is an opportunity for people to come together and explore the historical, current, and potential issues surrounding water quality, water quantity, and habitat first-hand. Attendees will gain informed knowledge from key environmental stakeholders, be able to ask direct questions, and work collaboratively to find solutions.