Restoring rivers and wetlands in Staffordshire and beyond could deliver major benefits for wildlife, communities and the local economy, as new analysis reveals that every £1 invested in river restoration at scale could generate more than £7 in benefits. 

A groundbreaking new vision for rivers in England, released today by The Wildlife Trusts, Trent Rivers Trust and Intact Insurance, uses the River Trent as a blueprint for reimagining England’s rivers at scale. The Rivers 2040 Vision maps and assesses how restoring the entirety of the River Trent - England’s longest river flowing from source to sea through Staffordshire and six other counties – could unlock significant economic, environmental and societal benefits.  

Across England, rivers are in dire health, with just 14% of rivers currently meeting ecological health standards. By reimagining how communities, businesses and land use can work together to bring the Trent back to health, the Vision demonstrates how whole river systems could be restored across the country. 

For example, in Staffordshire, a challenge many thought impossible became a flagship example of river restoration in action. At the former Victoria Ground football stadium in Stoke-on-Trent, a site redeveloped for housing, Staffordshire Wildlife Trust relocated a 450-metre stretch of the River Trent and restored its natural features and processes. This has created a thriving green corridor at the heart of a new community, bringing nature back into an urban landscape. Today, trout are breeding, kingfishers are hunting, and otters have returned. It's a powerful example of how river restoration can deliver benefits for wildlife, people and the local economy, while supporting sustainable development and regeneration.  

 Ahead of expected Government reforms to the water system in England, and as drought, flooding, pollution and unequal access to nature intensify, the Vision 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, 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 Staffordshire and the Trent’s 350km of 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. WATCH below from 7.30pm on Wednesday 14 October.