Ingoldisthorpe schoolchildren discover the ‘Journey of Water’ with Simon Reeve

TV presenter and WWF ambassador Simon Reeve joined children for an educational walk teaching them the importance of saving water at home.

In a new initiative from dishwasher brand Finish and WWF, the world’s leading independent conservation organisation.

The campaign is raising awareness of where our water comes from, how it links to freshwater environments, such as wetlands, rivers, and streams and why they need protecting.

Credit: Ian Burt

The walk event brought these topics to life and allowed the schoolchildren to experience freshwater up close and learn from a variety of experts. East Anglia is one of the UK’s most water stressed regions and Finish and WWF are working to replenish East Anglian freshwater and raise awareness about the issue.

Credit: Ian Burt

“It has been brilliant attending the ‘Journey of Water’ walk with Ingoldisthorpe Primary School” commented Simon Reeve. “It is important that children know where the water in their taps comes from and that is a lifeline for so many ecosystems. Few realise that freshwater in East Anglia is under strain which is why it is vital we are mindful of the amount of water used at home to help protect these precious environments.”

Credit: Ian Burt

The walk event took place at a constructed wetland managed by the Norfolk River Trust, WWF’s local delivery partner in Ingoldisthorpe, Norfolk. It was specially designed to take the children through the ‘journey of water’, bringing to life key stages of the water cycle and how freshwater travels from its source to the taps in our homes.

Credit: Ian Burt

The activities included exploring a constructed wetland and local river while spotting wildlife that live in these habitats. The ‘journey’ ended with a session about how water arrives in our homes, how water might be wasted at home and the simple steps that can be taken to save water, such as turning off taps, having shorter showers and skipping the pre-rinse if using a dishwasher.

Credit: Ian Burt

East Anglia is the driest region in the UK and considered by the Environment Agency to be ‘seriously water stressed’. This means that there is no additional water available to meet demand and in some areas water abstraction can damage ecosystems. The Environment Agency also predicts that the UK could face serious water shortages in the next 25 years as a result of climate change and growing demand, unless action is taken. The walk marks the start of the Finish and WWF Partnership’s ‘Journey of Water’ campaign.

Credit: Ian Burt

“The effects of climate change and growing demand for water are putting freshwater sources in East Anglia under strain” commented Conor Linstead, Freshwater Specialist, WWF-UK. “The ‘Journey of Water’ walk aimed to educate young people about the vital importance of UK freshwater and how they can help conserve it. Beyond this, Finish and WWF are replenishing 500 million litres of freshwater in East Anglia through innovative projects such as constructed wetlands that improve water quality and allow species such as dragonflies and trout to thrive.”

“We are putting our purpose in action through the Journey of Water campaign and our support for the WWF-led replenishment work in East Anglia which is helping to protect UK water sources” commented Steph Lilley, Sales Director UK & Ireland, Finish. “As a leader in dishwashing solutions, we are on a mission to help raise awareness of the importance of saving water at home. For instance, few people are aware that by not pre-rinsing dishes before loading a dishwasher you can save on average 1,000L of water a year or that using a dishwasher instead of handwashing people can save 6,800L of water a year.”

“The walk was a fantastic way to show first-hand the freshwater environments that exists in the region and the wildlife it supports” commented Jonah Tosney, Operations Director, Norfolk River Trust. “We often find through our educational programmes that many children know more about the Amazon river than they do about the River Bure or the Norfolk Broads which are on their doorstep. We believe it is important that young people understand the natural origins of their water so they can protect it for generations to come.”

Credit: Amy Heycock