Celebrating Rivers at
The River Summit & Festival
The UK River Summit, Morden Hall, River Wandle, 8th July 2025
Our Why
We believe rivers are vital life sources that sustain ecosystems, inspire curiosity, and improve well-being. By promoting accessibility, cultivating knowledge, and encouraging a deeper connection with rivers, we aim to protect their health for future generations—preserving their role as essential natural environments and spaces for community and mental well-being.
Our Vision
Our vision is to encourage a shared understanding of river health, uniting local communities, national stakeholders, and underrepresented groups to actively learn how to protect the UK’s rivers from pollution and other threats. Through the River Summit and Festival, we aim to generate meaningful collaborations, inspire tangible action, and expand our community—ensuring everyone has a voice in safeguarding rivers as vital ecosystems and spaces for connection and wellbeing.
Flowing into its 3rd year, the UK River Summit and Festival at Morden Hall is an independent event that brings together environmental leaders, policymakers, scientists, activists, artists, creatives and community members to discuss and develop solutions for the critical challenges facing the UK's rivers. The summit features a series of panels, hands-on workshops, exhibitions and networking opportunities designed to inspire and empower participants to take collective action towards the conservation and restoration of river ecosystems.
Our Mission
To inspire and empower communities, organisations and individuals to take collaborative and coordinated action to promote the health and sustainability of rivers. This will be achieved through running educational initiatives, offering many different entry points into learning about and taking an interest in rivers such as through creative expression, encouraging open and robust dialogue and with the help of our partners, providing practical solutions.
“Last year, the UK River Summit was described by industry and environmental leaders as a catalyst for change—and that’s exactly what we set out to create. The overwhelming feedback was that people had never been to an event where such a diverse group of stakeholders—scientists, anglers, policymakers, campaigners, regulators, and creatives—came together in one room, all united by a shared commitment to protecting our rivers. It was powerful, energising, and long overdue. With The River Summit and Festival, we’re building on that momentum—creating not just a platform, but a movement. A space where conversation leads to collaboration, and where action is driven by shared passion, not silos. We are committed to staying fiercely independent so that we can encourage open, robust discussion and facilitate the important debates that need to happen—without agenda, and without fear. In doing so, we hope to spark the kind of partnerships that lead to meaningful, lasting impact for our rivers.”
- Claire Zambuni, Founder of The UK River Summit & Festival
James Wallace, CEO of River Action said, "The UK River Summit is rapidly becoming a key date in the environmental sector events diary. With a combination of discussion panels, talks and festival-like side shows, Claire Zambuni and her small team have structured a truly inspiring, welcoming and pragmatic event. Using our discussions on the freshwater emergency and imminent water shortages as an example, the Summit is not just a talk shop. As with the rest of the day, the participants and attendees were engaged in considering practical solutions to the challenges facing our rivers, and how we will work together with urgency to implement them. I look forward very much to next year's programme and offer all the support River Action can muster to ensure it builds on this year's successes."
Learn About Us
On 13th June 2023, we invited the public to the first UK River Summit, hosted on the banks of the River Test. The event successfully brought together some of the country’s most influential environmental speakers and experts to talk about the state of our rivers in the UK and the action needed.
Check out our event video by FridaySky to get a feel for what we’re all about.