River Girl

In this episode of River Girl, we sit down beside the River Windrush with former detective and environmental campaigner Ash Smith, co-founder of Windrush Against Sewage Pollution (WASP), to uncover the devastating impact of sewage pollution on Britain’s rivers.

Ash shares how he first noticed the disappearance of fish and plant life from the Windrush, how his detective skills helped expose failures in the water industry, and why he believes the privatisation of water has failed both people and the environment.

We also discuss the Channel 4 drama Dirty Business, the campaign for public ownership of water companies, and the dangers of swimming in polluted rivers. River Girl shares her own experience of becoming seriously ill after wild swimming in the Windrush.

Despite the shocking reality of river pollution, Ash explains why our rivers can recover and how families, children and local communities can help protect them.

From sewage pollution to the fight for cleaner rivers, this is a conversation about accountability, protecting wildlife and ensuring future generations can enjoy Britain’s waterways.

What can one community do for a river? Debbie Campbell visits Sherborne Brook with Roger, her first volunteer on the Windrush project, to see the difference their work has made. Clearing roadside ditches has helped keep silt out of the water, and Roger has seen more trout return.

Together, they explore the brook’s wildlife and the history it carries through the village, while confronting a new threat from invasive crayfish and the troubling condition of the River Windrush downstream. It’s a conversation about friendship, local action and what happens when people get to know the water on their doorstep.

In this first episode, Debbie shares her own story and explains how a wild swim during lockdown changed the direction of her life. After becoming seriously ill following a swim in the River Windrush, she began investigating what was happening beneath the surface and discovered the scale of the challenges facing local waterways. 

She talks about her journey into river campaigning, working with local communities and volunteers, testing water quality, educating schools and building the River Guardians network. Debbie also shares her hopes for a future where families can once again enjoy clean, thriving rivers without worrying about pollution.