The good news is our sport takes place on top of the water, not in it. Other sports aren’t as lucky, so we’re working with , and and more as part of the Clean Water Sports Alliance to advocate for clean waterways around the UK.

Here are our top tips for keeping as safe as possible if you’re worried about water quality, and you can download our PDF guidance below!

Download the guidance

British Rowing Sustainability

What you can do

The golden rules

• Never drink water from sources such as rivers, lakes, canals, or the sea
• Wash hands thoroughly before eating or drinking after your session

Take care of cuts and grazes

• Cover all cuts, grazes and blisters with waterproof dressings
• Wash or shower after any significant contact with water from the river, lake, canal, or sea, especially if there are any exposed cuts or grazes
• Clean all cuts and grazes thoroughly

Watch your water bottle

• When taking a bottle of water onto the boat, ensure the bottle has a closed top – on a sports top bottle, water could splash onto it
• Take care not to swallow water that splashes close to your mouth
• If water is swallowed, refer yourself to a healthcare professional with full details of the incident

Choose sensible footwear

• Wear suitable footwear when launching or recovering a boat, particularly if it is necessary to wade into the water, to prevent direct contact with the water and protect the feet from cuts and abrasions.

Clean your kit!

• Clean down all equipment using a bucket and sponge after outings to remove any potential contamination – this is especially important  if you’re moving between stretches of water, to prevent the transfer of non-native species between waterways

And if you do become ill…

• •See your doctor as soon as you think you may have relevant symptoms. Tell them that you have been in contact with or swallowed river water when rowing
• Inform your club and

What your club can do

The best thing your club can do is stay up to date with our latest sustainability guidance, found on this page.

If you want to monitor your stretch or you have questions, get in touch with us at sustainability@britishrowing.org!

Club officers can

• Assess waterborne contamination risks and integrate findings into club risk assessments
• If risk is high, seek guidance from the Local Authority Environmental Health office and the local Water Authority
• Ensure that any information on poor river quality is provided to members
• Report incidents of sickness after rowing on poor quality water via B

report an incident here

Coaches can 

• Understand and communicate the risk of poor river water to participants
• Monitor at-risk individuals
• Ensure adherence to safety measures

Competition Officers and Organising Committees can

• Assess water contamination risks and incorporate them into competition risk assessments
• Communicate precautions to all relevant participants, using our guidance

More info

What is poor water quality?

When we’re talking about poor river water quality, we mean the chemicals or microorganisms that don’t naturally occur in the river, usually from sewage or agricultural run-off in the water.

What chemicals do rowing clubs track?

Rowing clubs often track phosphates, nitrates and E. coli.

Phosphates and nitrates are chemical compounds that are found in fertilisers, and when introduced to rivers they can cause ecological problems.

Alongside phosphates and nitrates, the presence of E. coli tells us there is pollution in the river.

Clubs who are part of British Rowing’s Thriving Water Scheme are tracking these chemicals – if you want to know more or start tracking your stretch, get in touch with us at sustainability@britishrowing.org!

The post Rowing when water quality is poor: How to keep safe, what we track and what your club can to do to help appeared first on British Rowing.

On Tuesday 24 February, the Clean Water Sports Alliance (CWSA) hosted a parliamentary drop-in session to look ahead to the Water Reform Bill and examine the key issues raised in the White Paper for recreational water users and public health. The drop in session brought together Parliamentarians and representatives of the CWSA (including British Rowing, Paddle UK, Swim England, RYA and British Triathlon) to discuss the Water Reform White Paper.

The MPs who attended were:

• Sir Roger Gale, Conservative (Herne Bay and Sandwich)
• Louie French, Conservative (Old Bexley and Sidcup)
• Joy Morrissey, Conservative (Beaconsfield)
• Mark Garnier, Conservative (Wyre Forest)
• Fleur Anderson, Labour (Putney)
• Matt Western, Labour (Warwick and Leamington)
• Jayne Kirkham MP, Labour (Truro and Falmouth)
• Liz Twist, Labour (Blaydon and Consett)
• Ruth Cadbury, Labour (Brentford and Isleworth)
• James Naish, Labour (Rushcliffe)
• Helen Maguire, Liberal Democrats (Epsom and Ewell)
• Gideon Amos, Liberal Democrats (Taunton and Wellington)
• Steve Darling, Liberal Democrats (Torbay)

The CWSA has set out suggestions the Government can take to improve the White Paper, including:

• A clear public health objective covering recreational water risks, not just drinking water
• Publish accessible monitoring and compliance data to enable informed decisions about water activities
• Strengthen existing targets through regulatory consolidation, including public health, and increase long-term funding and enforcement
• Ensure independent regional water planning incorporates public health, and increase long-term funding and enforcement
• Upgrade wastewater treatment in high-use recreational areas
• Shift from a narrow bathing waters framework to a recreation waters approach encompassing all inland and coastal water users

Rachel Dulai, British Rowing’s Sustainability Lead said: “British Rowing was delighted to welcome so many MPs representing rowing club boroughs at the MP drop in session yesterday regarding the Water Reform White Paper. Working with our Clean Water Sports Alliance colleagues, this was an opportunity to try to ensure that the recreational sector has a voice whilst details that will shape the Water Reform Bill are being drafted.  This is a once in a lifetime chance to help protect our waters and we will continue this dialogue with MPs in the coming months”.

The post MPs call for faster action on Water Pollution following Clean Water Sports Alliance drop-in appeared first on British Rowing.

In 2024, England experienced a record 3.61 million hours of sewage discharge through storm overflows.

Water companies were ordered to spend £104 billion and cut sewage discharges by nearly half over five years.

British Rowing and our partners in the Clean Water Sport Alliance have been pushing hard for reform to include better protections for the public and recreational users.

The Clean Water Sports Alliance has called for:

• Creation of a clear public health objective in the new legislation
• Greater prioritisation given to interventions that address the risk posed to public health by microbial and chemical pollutants by further reform of regulations
• Introduce regional governance that includes recreational users in decision making.

However, while the Independent Water Commission report recognised the importance of public health, the government’s White Paper today seems to give very little detail about what action it intends to take to safeguard our health.

Among the new proposals is a new Chief Engineer, to sit inside the new single water regulator. Their job will be to oversee checks on the water infrastructure, rather than water firms ‘marking their own homework’.

The new single regulator which will replace OFWAT, will also introduce an ‘MOT’ approach for water company infrastructure, requiring regular health checks on pipes and pumps to reduce the risk of failure.

The government has also set out how it will overhaul the complex and costly strategic planning process, reducing the number of planning frameworks from 20, to just two.

Other measures include rolling-out of smart metering and mandatory efficiency labels on items like dishwashers and washing machines to help households monitor their water use.

However, British Rowing feels the paper delivers mixed messages on public health. It is unclear what specific actions will be taken to safeguard the health of the public, beyond protecting the cleanliness of drinking water.

The Independent Water Commission was clear on what it saw was required to better protect human health from harm. These recommendations are largely missing.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Chair of British Rowing Diana Hunter said, “Our water is vital to those who row all over the country and it is essential that we do all we can to protect it. While I welcome the Water Reform White Paper, it is important to stress that more can always be done to ensure the longevity and cleanliness of rivers and waterways so that the public can enjoy them for years to come.

“I look forward to British Rowing working with the Clean Water Sports Alliance and other key stakeholders on this important piece of work.”

“British Rowing welcomes the publication of the Water Reform White Paper. British Rowing, as part of the Clean Water Sports Alliance, was consulted as part of the Independent Water Commission to which the White Paper is a response,” said Rachel Dulai, British Rowing’s Sustainability Lead.

“There are many good elements in the White Paper and it’s great to see the suggestion of inter-department working – particularly regarding road run-off.

“The sections on ‘Keeping our Water Safe’ and ‘Stopping Pollution Early’ mention ” access to clean and safe waters for recreation” being incorporated in future policy reforms including supporting ‘pre-pipe’ solutions – but there isn’t detail on what this is.

“We will be working with the Clean Water Sports Alliance to get this detail and to really push for clear measures to ensure rowers are enjoying clean and safe waters.”

Read the White Paper in full .

“These are once-in-a-generation reforms for our water system – tough oversight, real accountability, and no more excuses,” said Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds.

“Water companies will have nowhere to hide from poor performance, customers will get the service they deserve, and investors will see a system built for the future.

“This builds on the tough action we’ve already delivered, from record investment to banning unfair bonuses.”

The post British Rowing’s response to the Water Reform White Paper appeared first on British Rowing.

Join the webinar

Join the Invasive Plant Species and their Impact on Clubs and Competitions Webinar on 14 January at 18:30.

About Floating pennywort

Hundreds of rowing hours have been lost because affiliated rowing clubs cannot access safe water due to the fast growth of pennywort and the serious problems it causes.

Rowing clubs have had to cancel several events due to pennywort growth, resulting in essential income loss.

Pennywort was introduced in the 1980s by the aquatic nursery trade. This fleshy-stemmed plant grows into floating mats of lush foliage across waterways. Highly invasive, this non-native plant prevents our rowing clubs functioning and spreads extremely quickly once it has a root in the river, being able to double its biomass in a week. Azolla weed is similar and currently active in the Boston area.

The Sport England Movement Fund

The  ‘Movement Fund’ scheme, supported by Sport England, will run for 11 months and help educate and assist clubs to identify, manage and minimise non-native invasive plants, especially floating pennywort. The aim is to reach out to clubs to support them, primarily through education, to control and ideally remove floating pennywort from their stretch of water. This will be a nationwide outreach and education programme, laying groundwork for continued efforts to remove the species beyond the end of the 11-month project including identifying volunteers to continue the guidance work.

Support from British Rowing

British Rowing are welcoming Vanessa Coldwell in the role of Floating Pennywort Manager (one day a week) for the next eleven months. Vanessa started rowing in 1999 at school, continuing to row at University College London BC before moving to Reading RC, where she still rows and coaches today.

Vanessa started working in nature conservation in 2005 with such organisations as the RSPB, The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), leading projects, researching species, restoring habitats and removing invasive species.

What can you do?

If you are experiencing any problems with invasive weeds, email sustainability@britishrowing.org.

The post Floating pennywort: Support from Sport England, actions to take and how we can support you appeared first on British Rowing.

British Rowing was delighted to receive the first-ever UK Coaching ‘Green Award’. The award was presented last night at the Queen’s Hotel in Leeds by the Chair of UK Coaching, Michelle Bramley, alongside Sport England Chair Chris Boardman.

The award, new for the 2025 UK Coaching Awards, recognised British Rowing’s commitment to environmental sustainability within coaching practices and was judged on how we:

• Created awareness and education of the impact of the climate crisis on sport and physical activity in the UK amongst rowing coaches.
• Showed practical steps to take by clubs, coaches and rowers in order to be prepared for the consequences of a deteriorating climate and water environment.
• Embedded sustainability into coaching regular practice.

The ceremony is an annual celebration of great coaching across all sports and levels of participation.

Receiving the award on behalf of British Rowing were Sustainability Lead Rachel Dulai and Head of Qualifications and Training Development Rachel Hooper. Both have shaped the nomination submission that reflected not only the work of the governing body, but the work of everyone in the sport. Reflecting on the role of coaches and sustainable practice, Rachel Dulai said, “It is great to see that, following the launch of British Rowing’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy last year, this has been adopted by coaches, rowers and clubs.

“We are starting to see coaches foster a real care for the environment in their everyday practices and therefore the rowers working with them to help protect our field of play – rivers, lakes, reservoirs and the sea.”

Credit: UK Coaching

Meanwhile, Rachel Hooper shared that the lived experiences of coaches mean that they are faced with the impact of climate change, invasive species and pollution as an ongoing consideration as part of their coaching practice.

“Coaches are faced with the reality of climate change and pollution in particular with such frequency that they have to be evermore adaptable and creative to make sure rowers continue to have a great experience in the sport,” explained Rachel.

“As a governing body, we want to support their well-being in the face of ongoing challenges and uncertainty, along with creating suitable learning opportunities and resources so they lead the change. This award recognises the coaches and programmes that have taken on board the messages in our strategy to really embrace what it means to be part of the change for a cleaner, greener sport.”

Please look out for news of our next webinar on 14 January about non-native invasive plant species that are very nearly preventing rowing in some clubs. How to spot them and what to do about them if you do see one!

The post British Rowing wins UK Coaching Green Award appeared first on British Rowing.

It’s well known that outside of a boat, a rower is never particularly far away from an epic challenge. For Graeme Thomas, the Salmon Run is not just an epic challenge along the Exe River; it’s about raising awareness of all the issues facing British waterways and Atlantic salmon.

The 2021 winner of the Diamond Challenge Sculls originally hails from Preston and was blessed to have the River Ribble on his doorstep. Much like the Ribble, all 68 of the UK’s salmon rivers are facing issues and a decline in the number of salmon that call these rivers home.

Graeme hopes this weekend’s challenge, which coincides with , will help bring together river users to make a positive impact on the waterways.

“The salmon run hasn’t been running for so long. It’s run by Tidelines, a community organisation who are trying to bring people together across the sciences. This includes ecologists, artists, conservationists, local people, and those involved with the landscape and with the river,” explained the stalwart of Agecroft RC.

“It also includes other people who have lots of experience in the rivers, perhaps parents and grandparents who have fished in it and seen a decline in fish numbers. So much so that their traditional netting is a banned practice now, which is quite a sad thing.

“Everyone loves to talk about sustainability, and they were practicing something that was completely sustainable, but now, due to impacts from pollution, weir, barriers in the river, issues with fishing of the salmon out in the oceans, they’ve lost their sustainable way of life.”

Graeme’s route will see him starting at 08:00 tomorrow morning (Saturday) at the mouth of the estuary in Exmouth. For the most part, he’ll follow the river right the way to Dulverton. The first 20km of the route is expected to be relatively flat, before heading towards Exmoor National Park and the hills.

Graeme is used to large volumes of mileage. He’s a keen cyclist and enjoys bike packing as well, so he’s used to having to fuel himself and get enough energy in the body to sustain large efforts such as this.

“A rowing race is six minutes, and yes, we do a lot of UT2, but it’s completely different from having to for 10 hours. I’m aiming for 10 hours. The fuelling is probably the thing I’m least worried about, to be honest, because I’ve got such a big training history. It’s a simple strategy. It’s complex carbohydrates in the first four hours and then switching to simpler and simpler foods and sugars as we get closer to the end, and I can’t really stomach the idea of chewing anything.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

While Graeme will be out suffering on the hills, the public will be able to support him in his efforts to raise awareness about issues facing the rivers and waterways around Britain.

“I’d absolutely love for people to donate to the , who are doing fantastic work across the country, but I realise times are tight. However, the is free to download,” explained Graeme.

If you have kids or grandkids, go and find your local patch of water and record what you see. It’s like a big citizen science survey, and it’s a great way to see a snapshot of the rivers. We operate in silos at the moment. We’ve got rowers talking about clean water, swimmers talking about clean water, and we’ve got sailors talking about clean water. We really need to come together because while we do have a good voice individually, it’s far more powerful together.

“I’m thinking big picture, and I feel like I’m pretty positive, and I want to be collaborative to help other people and understand their perspectives. Rowers want clean water so they don’t get sick, and they can get the training time in. Anglers want more fish to have a chance of catching something, but that’s all fighting for the same thing: improving the water quality and the biodiversity.

“You don’t have to spend money, and you meet such wonderful people who are so passionate, and it’s really invigorating to be honest. Those opportunities are out there to make a difference. Sometimes it feels like a drop in the ocean, but all those drops make an ocean, and if we all come together, we’ve got a good chance of making a difference.”

One of the key objectives of British Rowing’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy is to ‘Help our Waters Thrive’. The Salmon Run will coincide with , a nationwide citizen science initiative inviting anyone to get involved in protecting rivers across the UK. The Rivers Trust needs more information on the quality of your rivers, and this survey will help them identify and locate the issues your river is facing. It only takes ten minutes and is a visual exercise.

“I’m not really sure what particular aspect of the run I’m looking forward to, to be honest. There’s a lot of fear. I haven’t done enough training to be doing an ultra-distance, I’ve never even run a marathon, so I’m going straight in at the deep end. I think a lot of athletes say they are going to do a challenge, and then people will say, ‘Oh, that’s not that hard because you’re an Olympic athlete,’ but it really is; it’s going to be a savagely hard challenge. I think I’m excited to bite off more than I can chew and just see how I handle going for that long.”

Graeme Thomas will be running the Salmon Run on 19 September 2025. You can donate to his fundraising efforts .

From 19 – 25 September, survey your river with to help restore rivers across the UK and Ireland.

The post From rowing to running: Graeme Thomas’ 43-mile blockbuster ultramarathon appeared first on British Rowing.

One of the key objectives of British Rowing’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy is to ‘Help our Waters Thrive’. In line with this and to coincide with The Big River Watch, taking place from 19-25 September, we are delighted to be opening applications for the Thriving Waters Scheme for 2025-26 to help affiliated clubs and organisations keep their local stretch of water thriving and accessible for the long term.

The Thriving Waters Scheme is supported by , who will donate 5% of their sales from British Rowing customers back to the scheme when using our British Rowing code CLEANRIVERS that will also save you 10% off all Delphis Eco products.

The Thriving Waters scheme will support projects involving:

• Water testing
• Litter clean-ups
• Invasive species management/removal
• Installation of water butts and buckets to assist with boat cleaning

Successful projects will receive a tailored package of support, including, where appropriate:

• An introduction to any existing, similar projects happening nearby
• Funding to cover all/part of the project
• Advice through The Rowing Clean Water Partnership (The Rivers Trust, Waterwatch, and River Action)
• Advice on external funding sources for which the project is in scope, and guidance on making an application.

Last year, we supported seven projects ranging from equipment for floating pennywort removal, to river bank cleans, to supporting clubs or regions set up water testing groups. Applications came from across the country and from schools, clubs, universities, and regions.

A few case studies are noted below from Year 1:

Northwich Rowing Club – BR-funded Floating Pennywort Clear Up Kit (£350 grant)

Northwich has a River Management Team that goes out on Thursday mornings to manage the riverbank and pennywort. They have been working from a launch and from the bank to cut back overhanging branches and brambles. The thinking behind it was that the clearer the water’s edge is, the less the pennywort will have to cling on to. They have been using their newly purchased equipment, including scythes and heavy-duty rakes.

Putney Town – BR funded reagents for E.coli test (£350 grant)

In January, Putney Town Rowing Club launched a six-month project to test the river for E.coli bacteria at its boating steps near Chiswick Bridge. British Rowing funded all consumables and we shared in the use of an Alert One, lent to Fulham Reach Boat Club by River Action.
26 club members joined PTRC’s Water Testing Group to support weekly sample collection and data analysis. Each week, results are uploaded to an open-access area of the club website. So far, there have been 152 views from 85 unique visitors. Club members’ interest in the initiative has encouraged the creation of a Sustainability Officer role to foster greener protocols at PTRC. The project has also captured interest further afield with features appearing on City News, GB News, and in the Metro newspaper. Lastly, the testing process is due to be part of a photographic art project.

How to Apply

Complete the application form here:

The deadline for submissions to the British Rowing Thriving Waters Scheme 2025-6 is midnight on 30 November 2025. Got a question? Please contact sustainability@britishrowing.org

Applications to be assessed by a panel consisting of representatives of The Rivers Trust, River Action, HM Government’s Animal and Plant Health Agency, Delphis, and British Rowing’s Sustainability Lead.

The criteria for assessing the applications are:

We will respond by email to all applications once they have been assessed after the closing date, whether they have been successful or not.

The post British Rowing launches second year of the Thriving Waters Scheme supported by Delphis Eco appeared first on British Rowing.

Ofwat, the regulator for the water and wastewater sectors in England and Wales, is set to be scrapped, following an independent commission into the industry.

The Government will establish a new, single, powerful regulator to cut water pollution in England’s rivers, and take responsibility for water functions across Ofwat, Environment Agency, Natural England and Drinking Water Inspectorate.

The commission report, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, has been undertaking the largest review of the sector since privatisation.

His report sets out 88 recommendations as part of a ‘fundamental reset’ of the water sector.

The Environment Secretary, Steve Reed, said a new regulator would “stand firmly on the side of customers, investors and the environment and prevent the abuses of the past.”

The scrapping of Ofwat is one of the recommendations the Government has announced it will be fast tracking.

A full response to the report is due in the Autumn, along with a White Paper which will set out what a new Water Bill could include.

British Rowing and the Clean Water Sports Alliance met with the Commission in March.

The report published today, 21 July, references the evidence submitted by the CWSA, which called for public health reforms to better manage public health risks in water.

The report acknowledges that:

“People want safer water, including for more recreational use, and there is growing public pressure for this vital part of the natural environment, our waterways and coasts, to be preserved and restored.”

Among the recommendations that aim to protect public health are:

• A greater say for public health through strengthened Regional Water Authorities
• A more coherent approach to pre-pipe solutions, preventing pollutants reaching rivers (such as the Government taking swifter action to ban wet wipes)
• A review by the Chief Medical Officers of England and Wales on the incorporation of public health into the legislative framework for water
• Stronger public health protections for water bodies that have a higher recreational or aesthetic value, that goes beyond existing bathing water locations
• A new, long-term, cross-sectoral, and systems-focused National Water Strategy for England and Wales.

The report comes as the Environment Agency said pollution incidents by water companies rose by 60% in a year.

There were 2,801 pollution incidents in England in 2024, the highest on record, compared with 2,174 in 2023.

“Whilst we are delighted that a new regulator will “stand firmly on the side of customers, investors and the environment and prevent the abuses of the past, as per the Environment Secretary Steve Reed,” said Rachel Dulai, British Rowing’s Sustainability Lead.

“With pollution incidents continuing to rise, the urgency of action cannot be expressed strongly enough. It is heartening to see the recommendation for ‘Stronger public health protections for water bodies that have a higher recreational or aesthetic value, that goes beyond existing bathing water locations.’

“The ‘proof of the pudding’ will be how the Government takes forward these recommendations in their response and what is proposed in the White Paper for a new Water Bill due to be published in the Autumn. ”

Last week, Surfers Against Sewage and 40 organisations, including the Clean Water Sports Alliance, wrote to the Prime Minister to demand an urgent end to the sewage scandal through a ‘systemic transformation of the water industry’.

Whether or not the report published today will lead to ‘systemic transformation’ is unclear.

Many believe that the fact that the Commission has not been able to address the issue of who owns our water companies, is a missed opportunity.

Ultimately, it will now be up to the Government to decide how far it is really willing to go with reform, when it publishes its response, and the White Paper later this year.

The post Ofwat set to be scrapped in ‘reset’ of water sector appeared first on British Rowing.

Environmental Sustainability is incredibly important for the future of our sport. Each year at our Championships we take more and more steps to minimise our impact on the planet – from waste disposal to reusing branding and bringing on new partners to help us amplify our vision for clean blue spaces across the country.

What sustainability measures are in place at the Championships?

Water refill points are available around the site – make sure to bring your own reusable water bottle!

Delphis Eco, one of our partners, are giving away bottles of their multi-surface cleaner suitable for washing boats and hand sanitiser. Be sure to pick yours up at registration!

North Wales Wildlife Trust are offering free boat cleaning on Saturday and Sunday to prevent the spread of non-native species (which are actually stopping rowing in some spots in the country!)

The Rivers Trust and local Trent Rivers are doing nature reserve walks and have a short survey on flooding – with a prize draw for entrants!

There are specific food and recycling bins this year to ensure we dispose of waste properly.

Who of our partners can you talk to whilst you’re in Nottingham?

• We can’t save our blues spaces alone! British Rowing has partnered with a number of organisations to help spread the word about sustainability.
• for the month of July with code DELPHISERCC15.
• The Rivers Trust and local Trent Rivers Trust will be in our event village – talk to them about key issues in your local area and how you can help! They are focussing on flood prevention and how natural solutions can work to protect our clubs and rivers.
• River Action have been instrumental in enabling some of our clubs test for phosphates and nitrates (as well as e.coli) whilst raising awareness of the issue with Government.
• Earthwatch is an international environmental charity who help us by testing water around the country to keep us informed on what we’re rowing on. Talk to them about testing your stretch!
• Nottingham (Lady Bay) Plastic Free Community will help with some litter picks and show how it’s possible to live plastic free. isit them at the weekend to find out how.
• Severn Trent Water – have an educational bus on Saturday and Sunday – you can learn about how the water system really works.
• Waterwatch are giving water testing tutorials on Sunday, supported by River Action

How to keep sustainability going at home!

Check, Clean, Dry

Make sure that you clean your boats before putting them back on your water to prevent the spread of non-native species. Want to spread the word at your club? Email us if you’d like identification cards, A3 posters or A3 metal signs for your club at sustainability@britishrowing.org.

Prevent Chemical Pollution – the biggest polluter of our rivers

Don’t forget to prevent chemical pollution going into our waters – use products like those from Delphis Eco.

Spread the word! 

Have you learned anything that you could bring to your club? Even one conversation can spark a shift in attitude that contributes towards safeguarding our waterways and our planet.

Plastic free July

Not only can you make sure that you take all your rubbish home with you from the Championships – take a look around your club and see if you’re disposing of waste in the best way! Gather some ideas

The post Sustainability at the British Rowing Club Championships: What can you do in Nottingham (and at home!) to protect our blue spaces?  appeared first on British Rowing.

British Rowing joined forces with Fulham Reach Boat Club for a PlasticBlitz, collecting more than 60kg of rubbish from the banks of the Thames. As part of World Environment Day celebrations, staff took part in one of Thames21’s collection of events which aim to clean up London’s 400 mile network of waterways.

Thames21 is an environmental charity that works hand in hand with local communities and mobilises thousands of volunteers to transform the London’s water. In its ninth year, London Rivers Week is part of a full calendar of sustainable activities that engages 7000 volunteers each year having a huge impact on water quality flowing through London.

After cleaning up some of the shores of the Thames near Hammersmith Bridge, British Rowing’s Sustainability Lead Rachel Dulai was delighted with all the efforts. “We were very excited to join forces with Fulham Reach BC to help clear the Hammersmith foreshore of plastic waste last week as part of the Thames 21 initiative – Plastic Blitz,” she said.

“It’s great to be actively doing something ‘on the ground’ and we’re encouraging our clubs to do likewise – and delighted to see that some are!”

What became clear was that the banks of the river were covered in ‘shards’ of plastic beer glasses as well as lots of plastic bottle tops. This kind of information is incredibly important to Thames21 as it feeds into their overall data that is being collected across the UK to help give focus to clean up campaigns.

Rachel explains that this also feeds into British Rowing’s sustainability strategy. “Objective 1  is to Help our Waters Thrive but we’ve added a strand on clearing up plastics to it for 25/26. This is in addition to the work on water quality testing and clearing invasive species (mostly Floating Pennywort).  We’ll build on this during the year and are working with a few summer events on their own sustainability and river clear- up projects too.

“We really feel, at British Rowing, that we’re at a tipping point with our rowing community as more and more schools, universities and clubs are taking action.  Please continue the charge to clear up the beautiful rivers on which we row.”

This call to action will be continued at the British Rowing Masters Championships this weekend at the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham. Athletes, spectators and anyone in the Nottingham are warmly invited to spend some time on Sunday doing their part in keeping our waterways clean and healthy.

British Rowing are also proud to partner with Delphis who provide environmentally friendly cleaning products. These can be used when washing down boats in order to look after our rivers. Follow the link below and use the discount code “CLEANRIVERS” for money off your non-toxic cleaning products.

The post British Rowing join the Plasticblitz to tackle river pollution appeared first on British Rowing.