Double your impact: restoring Atlantic salmon in the River Teme
The River Teme is a place many of us know well, whether walking its banks, spotting wildlife, or simply enjoying the landscape.
But for Atlantic salmon, the journey upstream is becoming increasingly difficult.
From 22–29 April, you can double your impact for the River Teme.
We’re taking part in the Big Give Earth Raise, which means every donation made during this week will be doubled. This is a limited, one-week opportunity and once match funding is used, it’s gone.
If you live in or care about places like Ludlow, Tenbury Wells, or the wider Teme Valley, this is your chance to support the river on your doorstep.
Why the River Teme needs restoration
The River Teme is one of the River Severn’s most important tributaries, flowing through the Shropshire Hills and into Worcestershire before joining the Severn in Worcester.
It should be a stronghold for Atlantic salmon in the UK.
But today, the River Teme is under pressure from historic river modification, loss of tree cover, eroding banks, polluted runoff, and barriers across the catchment.
These pressures reduce water quality, damage habitat, and limit how far salmon can travel upstream to spawn.
Restoring the River Teme
At Severn Rivers Trust, we’re working across the River Teme catchment to restore natural river processes and improve conditions for Atlantic salmon and other wildlife.
Your donation will support practical river restoration, including:
- Rewiggling straightened sections of the River Teme and its tributaries
- Planting native trees along riverbanks to provide shade and stabilise soils
- Creating and reconnecting wetlands to slow and filter water entering the river
- Improving habitat within the river channel
- Improving access so fish can move freely up the river
- Monitoring river health and salmon populations across the catchment
This could mean restoring a straightened stretch of river near Ludlow, planting trees along exposed banks in the Teme Valley, or creating wetlands that filter runoff before it reaches the river.
The past six months have seen some of the most intensive river restoration work ever delivered in the Teme catchment.
Working with the Environment Agency, Shropshire Council and the local farming community, Severn Rivers Trust has been delivering practical improvements at pace, helping to restore the river while also supporting efforts to reduce downstream flood risk.
In that time, the charity has already delivered large-scale improvements across the catchment, including:
- 22 new ponds and water features to slow and store water
- 3 hectares of new wetland habitat
- Over 10.5 hectares of native woodland planted
- Over 1.5 km of new hedgerow
- Nearly 3 km of river improved to support wildlife
Together, these measures help slow the flow of water, reduce pollution entering the river, and improve habitat for wildlife including Atlantic salmon, otter, and kingfisher.
Local people, local impact
This work is rooted in the communities that live alongside the river.
If you’ve walked through Ludlow, along the Teme near Tenbury, or anywhere in the Teme Valley, you’ve likely seen the stretches of river we’re working to restore.
Local volunteer Shannon spent time monitoring salmon activity at Mill Street Weir:
“It was a fantastic opportunity to get outside and see the wildlife on my doorstep whilst helping to collect really important data.”
Surveys like these help us understand how salmon are using the river and where improvements are needed most.
They also bring people closer to the river, from spotting kingfishers and herons to sharing conversations with others who care about the Teme.
Why this matters for salmon and the wider river
PhD researcher Ed Noyes, who studies Atlantic salmon in the Severn catchment, has said:
“We’ve seen a real decline in Atlantic salmon numbers across the River Teme and wider Severn catchment in recent years.
It’s driven by a combination of pressures, including water quality, habitat condition, and barriers within the river.
The positive is that there are practical actions we can take. Improving habitat and helping fish move more freely can make a real difference over time.”
By restoring habitat and improving connectivity, we can help unlock these areas and support the long-term recovery of salmon.
While this work supports Atlantic salmon, it also benefits the wider river, from invertebrates and birds to species like kingfisher, otter, and brown trout.
Double your donation for the River Teme
This is a limited, one-week opportunity to support river restoration in your local area.
From 22–29 April, every donation is doubled through the Big Give Earth Raise campaign:
- £25 becomes £50
- £50 becomes £100
- £100 becomes £200
Your support will help us continue restoring the River Teme, improving habitat, working with landowners, and building a stronger future for Atlantic salmon and the wider river environment.
If we reach our target, we can go further. If we exceed it, we can expand this work across more of the catchment.
Donate today and double your impact for the River Teme before the match funding runs out.
FAQs
Why are Atlantic salmon declining in the River Teme?
Atlantic salmon in the River Teme are affected by a combination of pressures including habitat loss, poor water quality, barriers to migration, and wider environmental changes. These challenges reduce their ability to reach spawning areas and successfully reproduce.
What is river restoration?
River restoration involves improving natural river processes, such as reconnecting rivers to their floodplains, planting trees, creating wetlands, and restoring natural channel shape. This helps improve water quality, habitat, and resilience for wildlife.
How does my donation help the River Teme?
Your donation supports practical, on-the-ground work across the Teme catchment, including habitat restoration, tree planting, wetland creation, and monitoring. During the campaign, your donation is doubled, meaning twice the impact for the river.
