This page tells you about river-related events happening soon in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and Northern Ireland. Examples of things we like to include here: river festivals, beach cleans, hands-on fishing demonstrations, lectures or workshops on nature topics, campaigning events and protests related to rivers and related environmental issues.

We'd really appreciate your help in keeping this page up-to-date, so please do add details of any other events you know about. You can add new things to this page just like you edit a page on Wikipedia. (There are instructions on how to do this here.)

Photo: River Test, Mottisfont, near Romsey, Hampshire by the UK Rivers Network.

• National: National Fishing Month: 17 July-15 August 2010.
• National: National Marine Week: 31st July - 15th August 2010. Dozens of events all around the country organized by the Wildlife Trusts.
• National: National Trust: Wild Child: Over 1000 events to help children learn to love nature during 2010.
• National: SAS August Beach Clean Tour: “Motivocean” is SAS's most ambitious beach clean tour to date and will be calling in at over 20 major UK beaches and waterside locations across the nation: Thursday, 19th August, Porthmeor, St Ives, in front of surf school; Saturday, 21st August, Sennen, in front of beach restaurant; Saturday 21st August, Tynemouth, Longsands, next to Tynemouth Surf School; Saturday 21st August, Cromer, Norfolk, by the pier; Sunday 22nd August, Praa Sands, in front of Lifeguard Hut; Sunday 22nd August, Croyde, North End of the Beach; Monday 23rd August, Porthtowan, Blue Bar end of the beach; Tuesday 24th August, South Fistral, near the lifeguard station; Wednesday 25th August, Bude, Crooklets; Wednesday 25th August, Gwithian, Godrivey End, Nr wooden bridge, Red River; Wednesday 25th August, Newgale, near Newgale House carpark; Thursday 26th August, Bigbury On Sea, nr Car Park, Venus Cafe; Thursday 26th August Ainsdale, in front of Lifeguard hut; Friday 27th August, Boscombe Surf Reef, by Sorted Surf Shop; Friday 27th August, Belhaven, Edinburgh, Scotland; Friday 27th August, Scarborough, South Bay; Saturday 28th August, Isle of Wight, Freshwater West; Saturday 28th August, Machrihanish, West Scotland; Saturday 28th August, Saltburn, by the pier; Saturday 28th August, Brighton, east of the pier nr Yellow Wave; Sunday 29th August, London, Battersea, foreshore south side of Battersea Bridge; Sunday 29th August, East Witterings, Bracklesham Bay;Monday 30th August, Broadstairs, Viking Bay, Kent.
• Lincolnshire: Lincs WT: Pond Dipping: 3 August: “Family Fun: Pond Dipping Whisby Nature Park 10am - 12noon. Discover the underwater world as we look for scorpions, stick insects and much much more! All equipment, lake and insects provided, just book early to avoid disappointment.”
• Cornwall/Devon: Get Hooked on Fishing: Tavistock, 1 August; Hayle, 2 August; Saltash, 4 August; Liskeard, 7/9 August.
• Hampshire: HWT: Itchen Navigation: X marks the spot: “This is an open art submission open to everyone. Visit one of the 10 identified spots on the Itchen Navigation and create a piece of art inspired by what you find. It could be a poem, a photograph, a bark rubbing, a painting, a memory….”
• London: Beckton Park Pond Day: Join Thames21 for a fun day at Beckton Pond. Activities will include plant identification, mapping, litter picking and vegetation management. Open to all ages. Please bring your own lunch. 10.00am - 2.00pm, Meet at Andrewes Gardens, E6 5TG.
• Derbyshire: Derbyshire Wildlife Trust:Family fun at The Avenue: Rivers to the Sea: 5 August: “Derbyshire Wildlife Trust school holiday activity. Join in and celebrate National Marine Week by looking at the River Rother and learn about the eels that spend part of their life here and migrate out to sea.” 10am-12pm or 1pm-3pm. Booking essential.
• Hertfordshire: Herts WT: Wild About Wetlands: 6th August: “Come and enjoy the sights and sounds of your local wetland wildlife at Cassiobury Park in Watford! Help us to make a wetland willow sculpture or watch one of our riverside puppet shows, to learn more about the wetland creatures that live in Hertfordshire.”
• Nottingham: Nottingham Riverside Festival: 6-8 August. Family event centered on the Victoria Embankment and the River Trent.
• Cumbria: Cumbria Wildlife Trust: Himalayan balsam work party on the River Kent: Kendal, Saturday, 07 August 2010, 9:30am - 12:30pm.
• Derbyshire: River Derwent Balsam Bash: Saturday, 07 August 2010, with the Calver Weir Restoration Project.
• Dorset: Dorset Wildlife Trust: Insect Identification and River Stour Dragonfly Walk: 14 August.”Join Margaret & David Godfrey to identify nocturnal insects - mainly moths - collected in their moth trap overnight. To include a walk along the River Stour to look at Dragonflies.”
• Brecknock: Brecknock Wildlife Trust: Canal Bat Walk: 14 August. Booking needed.
• Bucks: BBOWT: A walk along the River Wye: Saturday 14 August 2010. Time: 10.30am-12pm”A walk along the River Wye looking a the plants and wildlife. The leader will be Allen Beechey from the Chilterns Conservation Board. This will be an interesting follow up for those who attended Allen's talk 16 April. Level terrain with no stiles.”
• Cardigan: Cardigan River and Food Festival/Gŵyl afon a bwyd aberteifi: 14 August 2010: “Cardigan's River & Food Festival has grown to attract thousands of people to the town every year. The festival celebrates the River Teifi through river events from powerboats to duck racing. Entertainment is provided throughout the day and children can take part in a range of different activities.”
• London: Thames21's Cleaner Thames Challenge: “Join us for our annual litter blitz of the Thames. Last year we Flash Mobbed the Foreshore with over 200 volunteers. 2010 will mark the fifth year of the Challenge.”
• London: Thames21: Waterway Champions Clean-up of the River Brent: “If you're aged 16-25, join us at one of our Waterway Champions clean-up events.” Thursday, 19th August, 2010 11:00am Until: Friday, 20th August, 2010 13:00pm.
• Cornwall: Cornwall Wildlife Trust: Butterfly and Flower Photography: 22nd August
• London: London Wildlife Trust: Meadow Restoration in SW20: 22nd August: “Sunday 22nd of Aug -Fishponds Wood & Beverlymeads Nature Reserve 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM. Continuing to restore the meadow areas which contain acid and neutral and course grasslands. Tasks will include cutting and raking of grass, pulling bramble and cutting scrub that has encroached from and is shading a very old hedge row.”
• Rutland: RSPB Birdfair 2010: Friday 20th - Sunday 22nd August, Rutland Water. International birdwatching event organized jointly by the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust and RSPB.
• Gloucestershire: Ruscombe Brook Walk: Chantal Brown from the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) will be joining RBAG for our brook walk on 24th August. Chantal has particular expertise in environmental stewardship, habitat management, education and community projects and bats and butterflies and will be able to give us a brilliant insight into these areas as we walk along the brook. The walk starts at 7pm on 24th August at Puckshole.
• Cornwall: Friends of Fowey Estuary: Boat Trip to Polperro: Fri 27 Aug, 4:30 pm. Booking needed.
• Ireland: The Waterways Ireland Lough Erne Classic Yacht Regatta 2010: “Classic Regatta with sail, steam and motor boats at Crom, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland from Friday 27 to Monday 30 August, with yachts visiting from all over Ireland and the UK.”
• Reading: IWA National Festival 2010: 28-30 August 2010, Beale Park on the River Thames at Pangbourne, near Reading during the August Bank Holiday weekend.

• Northumberland: Kielder Foot Festival: 28th August - 5th September 2010, Northumberland Wildlife Trust: “A chance to explore the beauty of Kielder Water & Forest Park through various means using your feet! Enjoy guided walks, activities such as mountain biking, nordic walking and geo-caching, and experience the art, wildlife and natural beauty.”
• Shropshire: Nature walk in Rea brook valley: 3 September: “Join Wildlife Trust staff on Friday 3rd September for an exploration of the Rea Brook Valley as it flows through the heart of Shrewsbury. Look for signs of otter, watch out for kingfishers and dragonflies and listen for birdsong. Create natural art from things collected on the way. Suitable for the whole family. Please book in advance, spaces are limited.”
• Wales: Keep Wales Tidy: The Great Taff Tidy: 3-5 September 2010: “From the 3rd -5th September 2010, a large-scale clean up of the River Taff will take place from the Brecon Beacons to Cardiff. We are looking for volunteers, businesses, groups, fishing clubs and anyone who enjoys the River Taff to 'adopt' a stretch and help us clean it up. KWT may be able to provide free insurance cover and equipment, so if you would like to get involved get in touch today!”
• Wales: Holyhead Traditional Boat Festival: 3-5 September 2010.
• Cotswolds: Cotswold River Week: 4-11 September 2010. A series of walks to celebrate Costwold rivers and their biodiversity.
• Suffolk: Botanical Illustration: Four-Part Course: With Christine Grey-Wilson, formerly an illustrator at The Royal Botanic Gardens. Continues 20th October, 24th November, 8th December.
• Norfolk: Norfolk WT: Coleworts, Herbers and Flowery Meads: “Wednesday 08 September 2010 - Norwich Local Group. Charlotte Philcox, well-known local speaker and gardener will give us an illustrated talk about the Medieval Garden and its plants. There will also be our own Bring and Buy plant stall, please bring any contributions.”
• Suffolk: Suffolk WT: Lackford Lakes Bat Walk: 10 September 2010. A guided walk at Lackford Lakes, by the River Lark.
• Ireland (Wexford): New Ross River Festival: 10-12 September 2010.
• London: Mayor's Thames Festival: 11-12 September 2010. Many activities based around the River Thames, mostly between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge.
• Ireland (Cork): IWDG Whale-Watching Weekend Course. 10-12th September 2010. 2 nights at Cape Clear Island, Co. Cork. Cost: €70 IWDG members, (€90 non members).
• Oxfordshire: PSYM Pond Survey Training Course. 14 September: “The one-day course covers the use of national standard methods for surveying ponds for plants and invertebrates, including methods for assessing pond priority status under the UK Pond Habitat Action Plan.”
• Gloucestershire: Avon WT: Bat Walk along the River Frome. 14 September. “BAT WALK along the river Frome with bat expert Richard Cook, bat detectors will be to hand. Meet at Wickwar Road car park, Chipping Sodbury, 7.30pm (S)”
• Worcestershire: Farming and Biodiversity. 7:30 pm 15th September 2010. Worcestershire Wildlife Trust: A talk by Caroline Corsie, Agriculture Officer at WWT. Organised by Redditch local group.
• Devon: Devon WT: Talk: The European Beaver. “An illustrated talk by Derek Gow describing the ecology, history and contemporary management of the species, at the RC Church Hall, Ashburton Road, Bovey Tracey. Suggested donation £3.”
• Yorkshire: Beachwatch Big Weekend Beach Clean. 18-19 September 2010. 12.30pm – 2.30pm
• National: MCS Beachwatch Big Weekend: 18-19 September. Thousands of volunteers will be cleaning beaches around the country.
• Cheshire: Cheshire WT: Autumn Arts and Crafts at Riverside Park: “Saturday 18th September 10.30-12.30pm. Lots of fun activities using what we can find in the Park.” Venue – Riverside Park (bordering the River Bollin), Macclesfield, SK10 2SL 18-19 September 2010. 12.30pm – 2.30pm
• Dorset: Dorset WT: Surf and Turf: Marine Litter. Youth Event 13-25 yr olds, Worbarrow & Kimmeridge. Sunday 19 September, 10am - 3pm. Practical beach clean followed by a classroom session on the impacts of marine litter. All equipment provided.”
• Gloucestershire: Upper Thames Protection Society AGM: 7.30pm 22 September at Cricklade Town Hall Annexe. Gareth Harris will talk about Biodiversity in the Cotswold Water Park.
• Tyne and Wear: National Trust: Souter Lighthouse and The Leas: Creative Crafts for Kids : 25-26 Sept 2010.
• International: World Rivers Day 2010: 26 Sept 2010.
• Cornwall: Cornwall WT: Fowey VMCA Bats - A Guided Walk and Explanatory Talk: “Carol Williams will share her knowledge and expertise to tell us about these charismatic little flying mammals. All participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Free to Friends of Fowey Estuary members, £1.50 to other participants.”

• Somerset: Somerset WT/RSPB: The Crane Project. 6th Oct 2010 19:30. “Damon Bridge, RSPB, will give this talk about the Crane Project - could we once again see this majestic bird flying in the Levels? Shapwick Village Hall, Shapwick”
• Yorkshire: Calderdale: Clean up with Halifax Canoe Club. 9 October 2010.
• London: Thames 21: River Thames clean-up: Isleworth foreshore.Saturday 9 October.
• Brecon: Brecknock WT: Wildlife Pond Creation Day: Libanus. 9 October 2010: “Wildlife Pond Creation Day School - learn from Pond Conservation's Rebecca Good how to create your own pond. Aimed at gardeners and smallholders but relevant to anyone wanting to create a new pond. Indoor workshop and optional walk to look at some of the wildlife ponds nearby. Booking essential.”
• Brecknock: Wildlife Pond Creation Day, Libanus, near Brecon, 9th October. “Wildlife Pond Creation Day School - learn from Pond Conservation's Rebecca Good how to create your own pond. Aimed at gardeners and smallholders but relevant to anyone wanting to create a new pond. Indoor workshop and optional walk to look at some of the wildlife ponds nearby. Booking essential.”
• Bristol: Avon WT: River Dipping at Keynsham. At Dapps Hill, Keynsham, led by Dave Sage 2pm. Sunday 10 October.
• National/Cumbria: The Association of Rivers Trusts' Autumn Seminar & Awards Dinner 2010: Tuesday 12th October 2010.
• Oxfordshire: Decorative Canal Boat Painting: River and Rowing Museum, Henley, Sunday 17 October, 10.30am - 4.30pm.” Come and paint a small bucket in the colourful 'Roses and Castles' style which was traditionally used to decorate the cargo-carrying canal boats of yesteryear. No previous experience needed.”
• Berkshire: Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre: Family Wildlife Day. Date: Saturday 16 October 2010, Time: 11am-4pm, Thatcham, Berks: “Drop in between 11am and 4pm to discover some of the wonders of Autumn. A family event with lots of fun ways for children of all ages to explore and learn about wildlife.”
• London: Thames 21: River Thames clean-up: Battersea foreshore. Saturday 23 October.
• Scotland: Paddle 2010: 23 October.
• Scotland: Tay Descent 2010: 23 October. Tour and Race along the Tay.
• Oxfordshire: The Birds of the Thames: River and Rowing Museum, Henley, Saturday 30 October, 11.30am (coffee from 11am): A talk by Alan Parfitt, a volunteer at the RSPB Otmoor Reserve and a keen birdwatcher.”This talk will show the birds that you are likely to see if you walk or take a boat along the Thames, especially around Henley. Alan will help you to identify the distinguishing features of these birds and the habitats and local spots in which they are likely to be seen.”

• Brecon: Brecknock WT: Annual General Meeting and Guided Walk along River Usk. Saturday 6 November.
• Herefordshire: River Wye Preservation Trust AGM. Bunch of Carrots, Hampton Bishop on Thursday 25 November, at 7.30 p.m.

• Scotland: Solway Firth Partnership Conference. The Partnership's annual Conference has been scheduled for Friday 3rd December 2010 at the Wave Centre, Maryport.

• Staffordshire: 2011 National Festival & Boat Show. 29-31 July 2011, Shobnall Fields, Burton-on-Trent.