Most people know the Thames as a huge river in London, but its beginnings look very different. In the upper Cotswolds, small headwaters shape water quality, wildlife and flood risk downstream. However, past changes and pollution have harmed many of them, and climate change adds pressure. In summer, they can dry up completely. Then in winter, floods can hit villages and farmland. This is where river volunteering in the Cotswolds can make a difference.
Cotswolds Rivers Trust gives local volunteers hands-on ways to “get their feet wet”. The trust works with partners on the Evenlode, Windrush and Upper Thames rivers. Practical work includes natural flood management. For example, building “leaky dams” – woody structures that help water stay in the river during dry spells.
The trust also hosts community events. A recent free walking event took families around a 600-metre accessible path in the Cotswold Water Park. Along the way, children wrote poems, learned about butterflies and wove willow crowns.
Streamlining the Infant Thames
Streamlining the Infant Thames (SIFT) is a Cotswolds Rivers Trust project focused on the upper reaches of the Thames. Local residents are concerned about low water levels, pollution and declining wildlife, and want to protect the river. So far, about 20 volunteers from villages along the river have joined the project.
Some take photos at the same spot each month, which shows how the river changes. Others test the water for nitrates and phosphates. With extra training, some can carry out riverfly monitoring, which helps show when pollution events happen.
Funding from John Good Group will support the SIFT project. The grant will help with volunteer training, monitoring equipment, and community events across Ashton Keynes, Crudwell, and Kemble.
Volunteers will gain practical skills, confidence and time in nature, which can boost wellbeing. Over time, their records will help the trust spot places for natural flood management and restoration. As a result, the Thames could stay healthier through dry summers and wet winters.
“We are absolutely delighted to be supported by the John Good Group. This project is rooted in local people wanting to care for their river, and this support will help turn that enthusiasm into long-term action. For many volunteers, this will be their first chance to take part in hands-on environmental work and citizen science. We feel genuinely excited, grateful and proud to keep building a project that connects communities with nature.”
“Cotswolds Rivers Trust shows what a small, committed team can achieve. Its Infant Thames project starts with local people, giving them the skills and confidence to care for the river on their doorstep. We were impressed by the clear plans and by the care that goes into welcoming families and first-time volunteers. The benefits reach beyond the river itself, from wellbeing to wildlife and resilience to drought and flooding. We are confident that this community-led approach will keep growing, and we are proud to support it.”
Latest Project Updates
September 2026
Grants for Good Finalist
Cotswolds Rivers Trust has become one of the top five finalists in the latest Grants for Good round, funded by the John Good Group, and will receive a grant between £2000 and £5000 after employees at the John Good Group have voted on their favourite causes.