Ouse + Adur Rivers Trust

With spring around the corner and the return of longer days and budding trees, we’re feeling more connected to nature than ever, spending more time outdoors and enjoying its soundtrack. The quiet burble of a stream. The rhythmic hush of waves. The joy of wading through a river on a countryside walk. There is something universally soothing about water. Waterways have a way of grounding us, bringing joy, calm, and connection to nature.

But rivers, streams, wetlands, and estuaries aren’t just pretty to look at and listen to, they’re life giving. They regulate climate, protect against floods, clean our water, nourish ecosystems, and support our food systems. Yet the Living Planet Index, which indicates the state of global biodiversity, found that freshwater species are declining faster than any other group on Earth. Pollution, habitat destruction, climate change, and overuse are pushing them to the brink.

At Ancient + Brave, we know that our own wellbeing starts with a thriving planet. That’s why we’ve partnered with the Ouse + Adur Rivers Trust (OART), who work in our county, to help restore, protect, and nurture the habitats surrounding us. 

“Biodiversity: the variety of plant and animal life in the world or in a particular habitat, a high level of which is usually considered to be important and desirable.”

You’ve probably heard our brilliant Nutritionists talk about gut health, and how vital biodiversity is within our own bodies. A thriving mix of microbes in the gut helps us digest food, fend off harmful bacteria, support immunity, and even produce essential vitamins. It’s this diverse internal ecosystem that keeps us well.

Now, zoom out…what biodiversity does for our gut, ecological biodiversity does for the planet. It holds everything in balance. But right now, that balance is tipping. Across the globe, biodiversity is vanishing at an unprecedented rate, and the effects are impossible to ignore.

A vast majority of the impacts caused by climate change put a huge strain on waterways. They are particularly vulnerable to climate change due to altered precipitation patterns, increased temperatures, and more frequent extreme weather events. From droughts drying up reservoirs to floods bursting river banks, waterways are one of the most fragile, yet essential parts of our ecosystem, so it is imperative that we address the alarming decline in species.

If we want a resilient planet, we need to protect biodiversity at every level. From your gut to your nearest stream, it’s all connected. We are incredibly proud to have donated £20,000 and pledged a further £25,000 this year, to support vital conservation efforts led by OART, playing a key role in protecting and restoring river ecosystems.

Initial donation 

Our initial funding was directed towards the incredible work of Jo Owens, who has been instrumental in building and coordinating community led conservation efforts. With our donation, Jo has set up Citizen Science Hubs across the Rivers Ouse and Uck, empowering local communities to actively participate in monitoring and preserving their river environments.

This initiative aims to:

• Develop a structured community training programme

• Provide essential monitoring equipment

• Track chemical and biological water quality

• Monitor sea trout populations

Water quality underpins all aspects of river health and pollutants come in various forms and from a wide range of places.The original aim was to train individuals on testing and monitoring, to establish 6 fully equipped hubs that will be able to operate with confidence and expertise in river conservation. The project was so popular and successful, Jo established a total of 10 hubs. 

Our headquarters are located directly over the River Uck in East Sussex, in our weekly meditation sessions, the white noise of the river becomes a grounding rhythm to focus upon.  It feels really close to us (literally) which is why we are so happy to be supporting it.  

Why are these initiatives so important?

Monitoring the water quality is crucial to determine the health of our rivers. Chemical testing gives us a snapshot in time, helping us spot sudden changes or areas where pollution is consistently high. It shows us how the river is doing at that point in time, and where there needs to be immediate intervention to make a difference.

Biological monitoring focusses on the presence, diversity and abundance of freshwater invertebrates. These species are sensitive to pollution, a healthy stream or river should have an abundance of different species, and if their numbers start to drop, it’s a clear signal that something’s wrong, even if the water still looks crystal clear.

To further track the health of our rivers, OART have been tracking sea trout populations since 2001 to understand long-term trends and pressures affecting the species. Sea Trout are beautiful and fascinating animals, one of the flagship species of freshwater conservation and indicators of overall river health. Over the last 15 years their numbers across the country have been declining rapidly.

Sea trout face threats like pollution, poaching, habitat loss, and rising water temperatures, which are now reaching dangerously high levels in some parts of the river. They’re unable to tolerate water temperatures over 19oC for more than 5 days and some areas have been reported as up to 31oC.  By monitoring breeding sites, OART can manage and improve conditions for returning fish, such as through tree planting for shade, adding gravels, or removing barriers. Water quality is key to their survival, so chemical and biological data is used to help protect sea trout—and by extension, all aquatic life.

Getting our hands dirty in 2024

Community and connection are central to both our wellbeing and our brand values at Ancient + Brave. In 2024, we had the opportunity to bring these principles to life by partnering with OART and get our hands dirty through some conservation work in our local area. Over two half-day volunteering sessions, we contributed directly to critical environmental projects, and racked up a total of 100 hours toward vital environmental restoration projects. It was an opportunity for team building and coming together to have a meaningful impact on our planet.

At Church Farm in Sompting, an urban chalk stream was realigned and restored, creating a rich new area of wetland, daylighted river, scrub, and wildflower meadow habitat. To support this transformation, our team pulled on their waders and climbed in the stream to help cut back banks and vegetation, allowing better water flow through the newly established channel.

In Ringmer, the team were up to their waists tackling the stubborn Canadian Waterweed - an aggressive invasive species which forms dense masses that dominate water bodies, displace native aquatic plants, and reduce biodiversity. By pulling it up at the roots, we helped prevent its regrowth and mitigate the impact on local waterways. This also aids in improving water flow and reducing the risk of flooding in local areas. 

Now, with nearly 70 more team members than we had last year, we’re ready to make an even bigger impact in 2025

Looking ahead

As we look beyond the first year of our partnership, we're excited about what lies ahead. Our commitment to giving 2% of our annual revenue to social and environmental causes means that thanks to your purchases, we’re able to continue providing support and funding vital work. In 2025 our focus shifts to the restoration and revitalisation of the River Uck.

Despite spanning a large part of the catchment, the Uck remains in need of care. With our own office located right over the river, we see this as a unique opportunity to create meaningful, visible improvements for both the local ecosystem and surrounding community. 

In 2024, the Citizen Science Hubs proved to be a huge success - so much so that they were oversubscribed. Building on that momentum, we’re planning to expand the initiative into 2025, establishing 15 new sites across the Uck catchment area. That would bring the total to 25 operational hubs, marking significant progress toward OART's goal of 100 hubs by 2028.

It doesn't stop there. We’re also supporting a series of  small but powerful restoration projects as part of OART’s catchment adaptation strategy, developed in partnership with the Environment Agency. These low-cost, high-impact projects are designed to  deepen community engagement and reconnect people with nature through hands-on action. Planned works include:

• Installation of large woody debris to support natural flood management

• Creation of in-channel habitats to enhance aquatic life

• Removal and control of non-native invasive species

Our commitment to sustainability

Our commitment to sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. Supporting grassroots conservation efforts like this is a natural extension of our mission to give back to the planet and protect the ecosystems that sustain us.

We're incredibly proud to stand with OART in protecting the rivers that give life to our communities. These projects are just the beginning. With your continued support -  every purchase, every action - will help ensure that local waterways don’t just survive, but thrive for generations to come.

Want to make a difference?  Please visit oart.org.uk to find out how you can support the movement.