Picture this: a river where the water runs crystal clear, dragonflies skim the surface, and the flash of a kingfisher brightens your walk. That’s the future you told us you wanted during our community conversations. Everyone agreed that their biggest worry was the state of our waterways and that enough was enough. It was time for action! So, we’ve listened to your concerns and in response we’re launching our biggest ever fundraising appeal to help us tackle the problem head on. Our Wilder Waters Appeal will transform waterways across Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull, but we need your help to turn this vision into a reality.

Right now, our rivers and wetlands are under serious pressure. Pollution, climate change, and habitat loss are threatening our waterways. When water suffers, everything suffers – from the otters and water voles that depend on healthy rivers to the people who rely on clean water and flood protection. That’s why we’re launching this appeal: because restoring our waterways is essential for nature and for us.

Your support will help us act where it matters most. We’ll restore wetlands and floodplains, improve river habitats and create ponds, helping to tackling pollution at its source. These solutions also create resilience for the future. By giving rivers space to breathe and creating new ponds and wetlands, we reduce flooding, store carbon, and create thriving habitats for wildlife.

And what wildlife! Imagine otters coming back to a stream or a river near you, frogs breeding in a new pond, and damselflies dancing over vibrant wetlands. These projects will help iconic species and countless more, making our natural world more resilient in the face of climate change.

This isn’t just about wildlife – it’s about people too. Clean rivers mean safer water to swim in and more opportunities for people to connect with nature and stay active outdoors. Wetlands act as natural sponges, reducing flood risk for homes and businesses. They also lock away carbon, helping us fight climate change. And they give us something priceless: places to explore, breathe clean air, and feel connected to nature.

We’ve seen what’s possible when funding helps to support our work. At Lake View Park, in Coventry, we transformed an intensively-managed grass park into a thriving nature haven for people and wildlife, thanks to National Lottery Players and funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Mown grass once covered the whole of the site, with the River Sherbourne a ribbon of blue constrained to the middle. Following consultation with the local community and collaboration with Coventry City Council, the river and the land around it was transformed into a wetland oasis. There’s still enough room for people to walk their dogs, have a picnic or play sports. But now people enjoy the space alongside the wildlife which calls the park its home.

We know how and where to help wildlife that needs it the most, but we need funding to create wilder waterways. Every donation brings us closer to a future where nature and people thrive together. Please consider supporting our appeal so we can make Warwickshire’s waters wilder, healthier, and full of life for generations to come.

Will you donate today? Because when water thrives, everything thrives.