Waterlands

Weeds, Reeds and Healthy Streams

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Episode notes

Have you ever wondered whether you could look at the plants and animals in a river and tell how healthy it is? In this episode of Waterlands, Megan McCubbin invites us on a journey to a sparkling clear chalk stream, where warblers sing and water crowfoot blooms – the River Wylye in Wiltshire.

She’s joined by someone who has spent 45 years working in river conservation and still loves every second; Andy Thomas, Conservation Officer at the Wild Trout Trust, who explains the different life that can be found in the many different habitats of a healthy river, from reeds in the margins to larvae in the silt, weeds in the gravel and fish in the pools.

Zarah Pattison, who hates the word ‘weed’ almost as much as Megan, shares her knowledge of two invasive plants – Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam  - and explains what to do if you find them. 

And Senior Reserves Manager, Rosie Ellis takes us on a tour of WWT Arundel, with its SSSI reedbed and toad patrol.

Featuring: Andy Thomas, Zarah Pattison and Rosie Ellis. Presented by Megan McCubbin

If this episode has inspired you to take action for wetlands or discover more about our rivers, visit wwt.org.uk.

Waterlands is brought to you by WWT. It’s an 18Sixty production, produced by Ellie Richold, mixed by Melvin Rickarby and original music by Noah Bloom.