Bristol Avon Rivers Trust

River Frome Community Art Exhibition
2026-01-07 - 2026-01-22 | Bristol Aquarium, Anchor Rd, Bristol, BS1 5TT, United Kingdom
Come to Bristol Aquarium to celebrate artwork created by artists and community members connected to Bristol’s River Frome. Entry to the exhibition is free and located in the Aquarium foyer.
Please note that tickets are required to access the Aquarium itself and are not included as part of this event.
This exhibition forms part of a project led by Bristol Avon Rivers Trust, which aims to connect local communities with their river, the Bristol River Frome.
Working with primary schools and community groups along the Frome, we delivered river-themed art workshops and educational sessions focused on learning about the river and its environment. We also collaborated with artists based across the Bristol Avon catchment to create a series of sculptures for our Art in the Park event. Come and visit our exhibition and celebrate the artworks on display with us!

The exhibition will be open from Wednesday 7th January to Thursday 22nd January.

River Frome Family Day
2025-10-28 10:00 - 12:00 UTC | Black Rocks, Frampton Cotterell, Black Rocks, Frampton Cotterell, Bristol, BS362AA
Join Bristol Avon Rivers Trust and Frampton Cotterell Parish Council for a family event by the Frome including:

River dipping for invertebrates
River-based craft activities
River wildlife tracks trail
10% off at Magnolia Mews Bakehouse

Meet at Black Rocks, accessed via Mill Lane in Frampton Cotterell.
1 ticket per child. Accompanying adults do not need a ticket.

40 Acres River Clean - Stoke Gifford
2025-10-25 13:00 - 15:00 | 40 Acres, Stoke Gifford, Forty Acres Nature Reserve, BS34 8PZ
Join Bristol Avon Rivers Trust and Stoke Gifford Parish Council for a community river litter pick in 40 Acres Nature Reserve.
Everyone welcome! Go to our eventbrite page to get your tickets.
Meet by the main entrance to 40 Acres, opposite Meade Park car park (BS34 8NF).

Free river-themed fun at Hartcliffe City Farm
2025-08-29 10:00 - 15:00 | Hartcliffe City Farm, Lampton Avenue, Bristol, BS13 0QH, United Kingdom
We are hosting a stall in the Courtyard at Hartcliffe City Farm, with a range of free, fun river-themed activities to families to enjoy.
Visit the farm between 10:00 and 14:00 to learn about our river restoration work in Manor Woods Valley and Crox Bottom, whilst searching for river creatures, painting your own fish keyring, or operating a Lego sustainable drainage demonstration.
No booking required, just turn up at the farm and find us in the Courtyard.

Bristol Avon RiverBlitz 2025
2025-07-04 - 2025-07-11 | Bristol Avon catchment
Get involved with water quality monitoring this July for BART’s annual Bristol Avon RiverBlitz. Now in its tenth year, samples will be collected across the Bristol Avon catchment to test for nitrates and phosphates. The information collected helps us identify pristine waters, pinpoint pollution hotspots, and provide a comprehensive overview of water quality and river health. The data from the previous nine years is on our website, where BART will add this year’s data: https://bristolavonriverstrust.org/riverblitz.
BART invite everyone in the Bristol Avon area to participate in sampling their local rivers, streams, and ditches. This includes the River Avon and all the rivers and streams that flow into it including the River Chew, the Bristol Frome, the Somerset Frome, the River Trym and many more.
The 2025 Bristol Avon RiverBlitz will be taking place from Friday 4th July to Friday 11th July with volunteers taking their samples at their convenience between these dates. To register as a volunteer sign up here: https://bristolavonriverstrust.org/riverblitz/register
Registration will close on Saturday 28th June.
Join hundreds of other volunteer citizen scientists across the Bristol Avon river catchment as we work together to better understand and protect the health of our rivers!

River Art in the Park
2025-06-08 14:00 - 17:00 | Riverside Park, Wellington Road, Bristol, BS2 9ES
Come to Riverside Park on Sunday the 8th June to enjoy a collection of river themed sculptures on display in this beautiful city centre park. The River Frome flows alongside Riverside Park in St Judes a short walk from the bustling Cabot Circus shopping centre. Sculptures made by local artists and school children will be placed amongst the trees for people to enjoy as part of the annual Festival of Nature. BART will be there with a stall so you can also come and chat to BART staff about the rivers and what we are doing to boost their health.
You could start at the Floating Harbour in front of Bristol Hippodrome and follow the Secret River Trail to make your way to the park.

Secret River Trail
2025-06-07 - 2025-06-15 | Cascade Steps, Bristol Harbourside
Go here for a printable map of the Secret River Trail
Go here for the online map of the Secret River Trail

Did you know there’s a river underneath Bristol? Walk the route of the Bristol Frome as it winds beneath the centre of Bristol.
Starting at Bristol’s Floating Harbour, follow the colourful painted fish to find the river exposed a mile later at Riverside Park. Complete the trail using the online guide or print out a paper copy.
If you complete the trail on the afternoon of Sunday 8th June, you will find River Art in the Park at the end of your journey.
Find out more about the River Frome underground in Bristol here.

Litter Pick and Learn with the Big Tidy
2025-05-18 10:00 - 12:00 | Riverside Park, Wellington Road, Bristol, BS2 9ES
Join the Big Tidy project for a special litter pick and learn event! With experts from Bristol Avon Rivers Trust and RSPB Bristol, you can help clean up the Riverside Park area while learning fascinating facts about the river, the park and its wildlife.
You’ll be guided along the beautiful path through the park and discover how you can do your part to keep Bristol clean and safe for both wildlife and people.
All litter picking kit is provided and the path is paved, but please dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes.

Starting point: Entrance to Riverside Park on Wellington Road, St Jude’s, BS2 9ES
Event facilities: Accessible by public transport, Buggy friendly, Dogs on leads welcome, Family friendly, Frequent rest stops, bring drinks and snacks.
Cost: Free
Booking required: No

Nightingale Valley River Dip
2024-08-30 10:00 - 12:00 | Nightingale Valley, 3 Woodcroft Close, BS4 4QP
Get to know the local minibeasts that inhabit the Brislington Brook. This August our staff at BART are hosting a little workshop on the many small invertebrates and fish that make their home in our urban streams, learn about how to identify them and how BART collects and uses data on freshwater invertebrates.
Find out more and sign up here.

Manor Woods Valley River Dip
2024-08-29 10:00 - 12:00 | Manor Woods Valley, Crantock Ave, Bristol BS13 7QW
Get to know the local minibeasts that inhabit the River Malago. This August our staff at BART are hosting a little workshop on the many small invertebrates and fish that make their home in our urban streams, learn about how to identify them and how BART collects and uses data on freshwater invertebrates.
Meeting at the Southern entrance to Manor Woods.
Find out more and sign up here.

Flood Watch Training Workshop
2024-08-08 16:00 - 18:00 | Midsomer Norton, 14 South Road, Midsomer Norton, BA3 2EZ
Calling all citizen scientists! Fancy surveying your local green space for flooding and it’s contributing factors? Then maybe you should become a Flood Watcher! Join Bristol Avon Rivers Trust and Somer Valley Reconnected for an introductory training workshop on the new River Detectives – Flood Watch programme. The event runs from 4-6pm on Thursday 8th of August. Sign up through this EventBrite link.

River Detectives Workshop - River Trym, Bristol
2024-07-18 19:00 - 20:00 | Coombe Dingle, BS9 2RG
Many of our rivers across the Avon catchment are in poor ecological condition. With the help of water quality data collected by our team of River Detective volunteers, we are able to monitor their condition, helping us to focus our river restoration projects on the areas that need it most.
Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) are running a free training workshop at 7:00pm on Thurs 18 July on the River Trym at Coombe Dingle. During the workshop, volunteers will be shown by members of the BART team how to collect water samples taken from the river and be given their own water quality testing kit to take home and use as part of our on-going River Detectives volunteer program.
Participants are welcomed from all backgrounds, with no previous experience of volunteering, or river monitoring being required.
River Detectives is BART’s leading citizen science project and involves volunteers across local communities conducting long-term water quality monitoring of key sections of our local rivers. At present, we especially need more River Detective volunteers to monitor areas of the River Trym and Hazel Brook. More can be found out about River Detectives project here.
If you would like to attend the training evening at 7:00pm on 18 July, please sign up here.
If you have any questions, or are interested in becoming a River Detective but cannot make the workshop, please contact Dan, and we may be able to make alternative arrangements.

River Detectives Workshop - Bristol
2024-02-27 14:00 - 15:30 | Bathurst Basin, Bathurst Basin, Bristol, BS1 6FU
Do you live in or near central Bristol? Would you be interested in becoming a regular citizen science volunteer?
BART are recruiting volunteers in the central Bristol area to become River Detectives. Each River Detective is assigned a site on one of their local streams or rivers and will take monthly samples to monitor water quality.
We need volunteers on the Floating Harbour, New Cut, main River Avon, and Sitson Brook.
There will be a training workshop at 2pm on Tues 27th February at Bathurst Basin. At the workshop, volunteers will: learn how to take water quality samples, be assigned sites, and pick up their water testing kits.
If you would like to be a River Detective in the central Bristol area but cannot make the workshop, please contact Amy (see below) and we should be able to make alternative arrangements.
If you are interested or have any questions, please contact amy@bristolavonriverstrust.org

River Dipping in Winterbourne
2024-02-24 11:00 - 14:00 | Mill Road, Winterbourne, Mill Road, Winterbourne, BS36 1BS
Join BART for a river dipping event in Winterbourne. Have fun kicking about in the river, capturing minibeasts and having a go at identifying them.
For more information and to book your free place, visit Eventbrite here.

Half term 'Love Your River' Fun Session, South Bristol
2024-02-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Valley Walk, Hartcliffe, Valley Walk, Bristol, BS13 0HB
Join BART and Your Park for a half term river fun session! Come along to Valley Walk, Hartcliffe in South Bristol for some fun activities and free cake!
There will be a river scavenger hunt, meet the river minibeasts and river art activities with hot drinks, squash and cake on offer.
Grown ups can chat to BART staff about their local river and the issues it faces.
We would love to see you there! Especially if you live nearby.
Please sign up here so we know how much cake to bring!

Lego Workshop - build a river friendly house
2023-12-20 15:30 - 17:00, 2023-12-20 13:30 - 15:00 | Frenchay Village Hall, Beckspool Rd, Bristol, BS16 1NU
This will be an hour and a half workshop where children and their accompanying adult will build a river friendly house from Lego and other materials. Their house will help reduce flooding and sewage overflow by slowing down rain water. Children will test their houses to see how much water they hold back.
A fun activity for children aged about 5 – 10 years with a really important environmental message.
Book one place per child attending and children must be accompanied by an adult. Maximum 3 children per adult.
Book via EventBrite. Places are limited.

River Walk - Stoke Gifford
2023-12-10 10:00 - 12:00 | Meade park car park, Meade Park Car Park, BS34 8NF
Join BART for a 3km guided walk along Stoke Brook showcasing the habitat restoration work we have been doing in the area. Come and see what BART have done to reduce flood risk and improve the health of the brook using nature-based solutions.
We will meet in Meade Park Car Park and walk to see leaky dams, woody berms and large wood debris installed in the brook. These structures help slow the flow of water, reconnect the brook with its floodplain and improve habitat diversity. BART’s engagement and education officer will talk about the work done and how it helps improve this heavily modified river.
The pace of the walk will be slow, making plenty of stops to talk about the river.
The event is free, but please sign up via EventBrite (or contact amy@bristolavonriverstrust.org)

Pickedmoor Rhine River Restoration
2023-11-16 - 2023-11-17 | Swallow Park, Swallow Park, Thornbury, BS35
Join Bristol Avon Rivers Trust for a day of practical conservation work to help restore the Pickedmoor Rhine river in Thornbury.
The river channel is currently over straightened with a excess of sediment on the bed. To encourage natural river processes to return and to enhance the biodiversity of the river this project will construct 10 complex woody material structures. These structures help diversify flow conditions, filter out sediments and provide refuge for river wildlife.
The day will involve lots of physical labour both along and within the river channel to build the structures. The work involves using tools (hammers and saws) and takes place on often uneven and slippy ground. Because of the working conditions, anyone interested in signing up should self assess whether they feel they can safely undertake these tasks.
The ending of each day may vary depending on conditions on the ground.
Please sign up for the event via EventBrite
If you have any questions, email jacob@bristolavonriverstrust.org

River Detectives Workshop - South Bristol
2023-11-15 14:00 - 16:00 | Crox Bottom, Crox Bottom, Bristol, BS13 7TJ, United Kingdom
Do you live in or near South Bristol? Would you be interested in becoming a regular citizen science volunteer?
BART are recruiting volunteers in the South Bristol area to become River Detectives. Each River Detective is assigned a site on one of their local streams or rivers and will take monthly samples to monitor water quality.
We need volunteers on the River Malago, Pigeonhouse Stream, Collitors Brook and Brislington Brook. These watercourses run through Long Ashton, Ashton Vale, Bedminster, Bedminster Down, Bishopsworth, Withywood, HartCliffe and nearby areas.
There will be a training workshop at 2pm on Weds 15th November at Crox Bottom Nature Reserve. At the workshop, volunteers will: learn how to take water quality samples, choose sites, and pick up their water testing kits.
If you would like to be a River Detective in the South Bristol area but cannot make the workshop, please contact Amy (see below) and we should be able to make alternative arrangements.
If you are interested or have any questions, please contact amy@bristolavonriverstrust.org

Half term River Fun Session, South Bristol
2023-10-24 10:00 - 12:00 | Manor Woods Valley, Crantock Ave, Bristol BS13 7QW
Join BART for a half term river fun session! Come along to Manor Woods Valley in South Bristol for some fun activities and free cake!
There will be scavenger hunts, meet the river minibeasts and river art activities with hot drinks, squash and cake on offer.
Grown ups can chat to BART staff about their local river and the issues it faces.
We would love to see you there! Especially if you live nearby.
Please sign up here so we know how much cake to bring!

River Nature Walk, Hartcliffe
2023-10-14 14:00 - 16:00 | Hartcliffe Morrisons, Peterson Ave, Bristol BS13 0BE
Join BART for a relaxed nature walk and talk along the Pigeonhouse Stream, Hartcliffe.
We will walk a 1.5 mile circular route along the Pigeonhouse Stream and back through Wilmott Park. Along the way you will learn about this urban stream, its wonderful wildlife and what can be done to improve its health. You can also learn about what Bristol Avon Rivers Trust have been doing in the area to help local streams and rivers. All welcome!
Meet outside Morrisons, Peterson Ave. You can park here.
The walk will take about two hours, making plenty of stops to take in the wildlife and moving at a pace that suits everyone.
Please sign up here so that we know numbers. Any questions or issues please email: amy@bristolavonriverstrust.org

River Dipping - Chew Magna
2023-07-25 10:00 - 14:00 | Chew Magna
Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) is running a river dipping session for local community groups, residents, families and friends. Come along to gain a better understanding of your local waterway and the true delights it has to offer!
The session involves sampling and identifying invertebrates in the local watercourse, as well as mini-raft building from all natural materials. The session is finished off by racing the creatively built rafts down the river!
This is a drop in session that is running from 10:00am until 2:00pm, so feel free to stay as long as you would like!
Wellies are required, but nets and river dipping equipment will be provided!
Please sign up via Eventbrite and you will be kept up to date on the location.
Suitable for children age 5+

Yellow Fish Event - Chippenham
2023-07-22 10:00 - 14:00 | Riverside Drive Chippenham, Riverside Drive, Chippenham, SN15, United Kingdom
Help your local river by painting yellow fish!!
Join BART for one of our Yellow Fish events.
You will paint yellow fish next to surface drains to raise awareness that ONLY RAIN SHOULD GO DOWN THE DRAIN!
These drains often lead straight to a river or stream and is not treated. Whatever is poured down the drain can end up straight in the river. This can be damaging to the river ecosystem.
Come and paint yellow fish in Chippenham!
If you would like to take part please sign up via Eventbrite

Saving Water for River Wildlife - a talk and discussion
2023-07-18 19:30 - 21:00 | Old School Rooms, Chew Magna, BS40 8SH
BART are hosting a talk and discussion about the future of our water supply, what the issues mean for river wildlife and what we can all do to help. Come and find out how the pressures of climate change and increased population are predicted to impact our water resources, how the inevitable low river levels affects various freshwater species and what action can be taken to strengthen our water resilience. Discussion about the best steps to take will be very much encouraged!

All welcome!

RiverBlitz Event - Midsomer Norton
2023-07-09 10:00 - 14:00 | Midsomer Norton Park, Midsomer Norton Park, BA3 2UH
Come and join the Bristol Avon Rivers Trust team at our Bristol Avon RiverBlitz event for the Cam and Wellow Brooks in Midsomer Norton!
The Bristol Avon RiverBlitz (July 7th -14th) is a citizen science event where as many volunteers as possible sign up and collect water quality data. You can come to one of four in-person events, including this one at Midsomer Norton, and pick up a kit. Once you have collected your samples in a stream or river of your choice in the Bristol Avon catchment, you will upload your data using BART’s online tool.
At the in-person events, you will be able to chat to the team and we can guide you through the sampling process.
We will be in Midsomer Norton Town Park with our stall and our water testing kits. We would love to see you there!
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED BUT SOME KITS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS. Come early not to be disappointed!

RiverBlitz Event - River Biss, Trowbridge
2023-07-09 10:00 - 14:00 | Trowbridge Park Pond, Trowbridge Park, Trowbridge, BA14 7EH
Come and join the Bristol Avon Rivers Trust team at our Bristol Avon RiverBlitz event on the River Biss in Trowbridge Park Pond!
The Bristol Avon RiverBlitz (July 7th -14th) is a citizen science event where as many volunteers as possible sign up and collect water quality data. You can come to one of four in-person events, including this one at Trowbridge Park Pond, and pick up a kit. Once you have collected your samples in a stream or river of your choice in the Bristol Avon catchment, you will upload your data using BART’s online tool.
At the in-person events, you will be able to chat to the team and we can guide you through the sampling process.
We will be at Trowbridge Park Pond with our stall and our water testing kits. We would love to see you there!
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED BUT SOME KITS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS. Come early not to be disappointed!

RiverBlitz Event - River Chew, Keynsham
2023-07-08 10:00 - 14:00 | Keynsham Memorial Park, Keynsham Memorial Park, Keynsham, BS31 1HL
Come and join the Bristol Avon Rivers Trust team at our Bristol Avon RiverBlitz event on the River Chew in Keynsham Memorial Park!
The Bristol Avon RiverBlitz (July 7th -14th) is a citizen science event where as many volunteers as possible sign up and collect water quality data. You can come to one of four in-person events, including this one ain Keynsham, and pick up your kit. Once you have collected your samples in a stream or river of your choice in the Bristol Avon catchment, you will upload your data using BART’s online tool.
At the in-person events, you will be able to chat to the team and we can guide you through the sampling process.
We will be in Keynsham Memorial Park with our stall and our water testing kits. We would love to see you there!
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED BUT SOME KITS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS. Come early not to be disappointed!

RiverBlitz Event - Land Yeo, Watercress Farm
2023-07-08 10:00 - 14:00 | Watercress Farm, Wraxall, Near Tyntsfield, BS48 1NE
Come and join the Bristol Avon Rivers Trust team and Avon Wildlife Trust at our Bristol Avon RiverBlitz event for the Land Yeo at Watercress Farm near Tyntsfield.
The Bristol Avon RiverBlitz (July 7th -14th) is a citizen science event where as many volunteers as possible sign up and collect water quality data. You can come to one of four in-person events, including this one at Watercress Farm, and pick up your kit. Once you have collected your samples in a stream or river of your choice in the Bristol Avon catchment, you will upload your data using BART’s online tool.
At the in-person events, you will be able to chat to the team and we can guide you through the sampling process.
We will be at Watercress Farm with our stall and our water testing kits. We would love to see you there!
Once you have turned into Watercress Farm, keep following the track until you see RiverBlitz signs.
The site is lovely, you might see the resident free-ranging cows and pigs and you can have a look at the awesome, large scale river restoration work going on there.
Guided walk of Watercress Farm 11am: Avon Wildlife Trust will be hosting a guided walk around the farm to show visitors features of the river and also the awesome river restoration work going on there. The river is being re-routed to take a more natural meandering route which will give a huge boost to biodiversity. See the project in it’s early stages.

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED BUT SOME KITS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS. Come early not to be disappointed!

RiverBlitz - Be a citizen scientist!
2023-07-07 - 2023-07-14 | Bristol Avon catchment
The Bristol Avon RiverBlitz (July 7th -14th) is a citizen science event where as many volunteers as possible sign up and collect water quality data. Volunteers collect phosphate and nitrate samples from a river or stream of their choice in the Bristol Avon catchment. BART then use the data to assess the health of our rivers and to inform our work to improve rivers for people and wildlife.
Anyone can join in! You can pick up a kit at one of our in-person events.
**Limited number of kits available – comer early to get one**
Once you have your kit, you need to sample a stream or river between July 7th – 14th and upload your data onto BART’s online tool.
The more people who get involved, the more data we collect!
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED BUT SOME KITS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS. Come early not to be disappointed!
