Every month, we celebrate a different river across Wales. Not just our big, famous rivers, we want to tell you all about the numerous smaller but just as important ones, the tributaries and feeder streams too.
We will showcase their rich history, rare flora and fauna as well as issues and threats these rivers face, along with the work that goes into protecting them.
We hope you enjoy the series…
The Afon Eden
This SAC-designated tributary of the Afon Mawddach flows partly through Eryri National Park in North Wales. Its dark waters hide an increasingly rare creature thought to be one of the motivations for the Romans to invade the British Isles….
The Eastern And Western Cleddau
Nowadays two of Wales worst performing SAC rivers, the Cleddaus in West Wales were once said to “abound in fish.” Their banks are rich in history, including unique fish methods and a village with a matriarchal society….
River Teme
A river reputed to be one of the fastest in the UK, yet still disappears completely in summer, whose history is shaped by giants and where Arthur and Guinevere are said to have been married. The fascinating upper Teme is the Severn’s second largest tributary ….
Afon Elan
The Elan flows from high on the moors of Ceredigion before entering Craig Goch, the first of a series of reservoirs built after 1893 to provide water for Birmingham. Its salmon were once so prolific, they caused a riot to break out in a nearby town ….
Afon Afan
This small spate river in South Wales is a rare but fragile success story. Ravaged by pollution from mines and metal industries, the river is now recovering thanks to the efforts of a small band of determined locals …
River Ely
One of the true industrial rivers of South Wales, the Ely was once so polluted that it was said to occasionally run red. Its water quality is improving but the banks are home to another deadly source of poison …
Afon Alyn
Rising on the Clwydian Hills in North Wales, this is the longest of the river Dee’s tributaries. Find out about the rich industrial history, why the river disappears in dry weather and which famous composer the Alyn inspired …
Afon Gwyrfai
The Gwyrfai is a small, mountainous river typical of north-west Wales. It passes through Llyn Cwellyn, a deep glacial lake that is home to one of three native Welsh populations of Arctic char – ‘Torgoch’ …