Groundbreaking new river vision and economic analysis provides a blueprint for reimagining England’s rivers at scale, including in Hertfordshire and Middlesex.

A groundbreaking new vision for rivers in England, released today by The Wildlife Trusts, Trent Rivers Trust and Intact Insurance, outlines how nature must be at the heart of plans to restore waterways in Hertfordshire and Middlesex and across England in order to unlock significant economic, environmental and societal benefits.

Published today, The Rivers 2040 Vision maps and assesses the impact of restoring the entirety of England’s longest river from source to sea – the River Trent - on nature, the economy and local communities. By reimagining how communities, businesses and land use can work together to bring the Trent back to health, the Vision provides a blueprint for restoring whole river systems across the country.

A project carried out at scale locally ‘Reviving the River Ash’ in East Hertfordshire was completed last year by Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and went on to win the UK River Prize at The River Restoration Centre (RRC) Awards in April 2026. The seven-year project, which involved planning, fundraising and delivery to restore the rare chalk river also resulted in an extensive range of new wetland habitats being created to benefit wildlife, including the critically endangered Water Vole, wild Brown Trout, and Kingfisher. The project is thought to be one of the most ambitious river restoration projects to have taken place in the south east, with a seven-kilometre stretch of the chalk river restored involving floodplain reconnection, barrier removal and wetland habitat creation. 

Sarah Perry, Rivers Recovery Manager, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust says,

“The scale and impact of the River Ash project is exciting – and it’s river restoration at scale that we need and want to see more of. Healthier rivers carry fresh water, protect us from floods, help to maintain the ecosystem balance that we rely on and they support our wellbeing.  We have the know-how, the examples, and now the blueprint of The Rivers 2040 Vision to support our ambitions. I’m hopeful this will lead to more positive change for rivers and nature’s recovery, to investment from funders and to increasing engagement with our river communities.”

Across England, rivers are in dire health. Just 14% of rivers currently meet ecological health standards, and many have not improved since their condition was last reported on in 2019. The Government is also likely to miss legal targets to restore almost 80% of England’s waters by 2027, and 1 in 4 properties are predicted to be at risk of flooding by 2050 without action. 

Ahead of expected Government reforms to the water system in England, and as drought, flooding, pollution and unequal access to nature intensify, the Vision also includes first-of-its-kind economic analysis. The findings reveal a substantial potential return from restoring the Trent; an estimated investment of £43 million a year over the next 30 years could generate approximately £10 billion in economic benefits, with every £1 invested in nature-led river restoration potentially delivering more than £7 in benefits.

Yet, while the economic benefits of nature-led river restoration are staggering, the Vision argues that current efforts remain fragmented and underfunded. Instead, three key areas of change are needed to restore and recover the health of England’s rivers:  

• Deploying nature-based solutions at scale; 
• Growing local control of water; 
• And a long-term water strategy that recognises nature as critical infrastructure.

Dr Rob Stoneman, Director of Landscape Recovery at The Wildlife Trusts, says:

“From scandalous pollution to increasing flood risk, we know that people right across the country care deeply about the health of our waterways and want to see an end to the cocktail of threats facing them. The scale of the challenge is huge, but our new vision for rivers is a call to arms; there is an enormous prize to be won if we get this right. 

“As our mapping of the River Trent proves, we must work together across whole catchments – and the communities, businesses and local authorities within them – to embed nature-based solutions into the heart of river restoration efforts. Only then, with national and regional policy recognising that nature is necessary to the health of our waterways, can investment in river recovery truly deliver greater climate resilience, local prosperity and bring wildlife back to our waterways.”

The vision shows how, across Hertfordshire and Middlesex’ catchments, floodplains and riverbanks, the benefits of nature-led restoration are real; from carbon sequestration and natural flood management to cleaner water, green job creation, and improved recreation and health outcomes. 

Chris Reid, Deputy Senior Vice President at Intact Insurance, says:

“As extreme weather becomes more frequent, we need to think differently about how we protect our communities. Restoring rivers, floodplains and wetlands can help manage water, reduce flood risk and make the places where people live and do business more resilient.”

“The Rivers 2040 Vision shows what is possible when we restore and protect nature at scale. By working with The Wildlife Trusts, we are helping to create healthier rivers that are better able to adapt to a changing climate and build more resilient communities.”

The Rivers 2040 Vision is released alongside A River Speaks, a new film voiced by Line of Duty actor Vicky McClure, which follows the River Trent from source to sea. Premiering at the Blue Earth Summit on Wednesday 14 October, the film showcases the conservationists, farmers, schoolchildren and communities working to restore and reconnect people to the Trent.

Read The Rivers 2040 Vision here and tune in for the premiere of A River Speaks on YouTube here: YouTube

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