What are your relationships with rivers?

The Riverkin project builds on the idea that human-nature relationships were once, and in many places still are, rooted in kinship, familial care and responsibility. Kinship with rivers has formed a vital part of campaigns for water care and health in other parts of the world, for example, on the Whanganui River in Aotearoa New Zealand. People generally want to protect and care for their family, and vice versa, in whatever form that takes. 

The Sapling Fund has supported project lead Josh Cohen from water@leeds to work collaboratively with the  Nidd Action Group to explore these ideas through engagement with the River Nidd in North Yorkshire. In a recent paper, Josh and other colleagues at the University of Leeds argue that a loss of this kinship is related to current water crises in the UK, and that reigniting it could help reverse our current water crises. Business as usual is not an option, making it important to cast our net widely, gather ideas, test and explore alternative models now.      

Josh said: “There are no easy solutions to our water crises, but thinking together creatively with each other and with water has to be part of it.”   

This is where you can join in! The team are running a series of events on and around the River Nidd in Knaresborough. On Tuesday 20 May 2025 you are warmly invited to the green space at Blenkhorn's boat hire, next to High Bridge (A59) In Knaresborough. You can find the location using the what3words// app, use the reference: cheerily.dares.sticky.   

Right on the banks of the beautiful River Nidd in central Knaresborough, you can share memories, relations and thoughts connected to the Nidd. The team will also ask you for ideas on how we could improve our relationships to our rivers, and care for them better. There will be various ways for you to do this, including with your voice, in writing, in drawings and painting, and through sewing with Madison Wright’s innovative community quilt-making approach. Prize-winning Artist James McKay will also be live producing a work of art centring on the Nidd and the stories, experience and thoughts people bring to the event.  

This event will run between 2pm and 7pm and will contribute towards a public exhibition in Knaresborough which will run in June-July 2025.   

Image courtesy of Lens Lab, reproduced with permission.