From River Source to Sea

At first glance, a Marine Resilience project may seem an unusual fit for a landlocked national park. But the rivers, streams and waterways that flow through Bannau Brycheiniog are intrinsically linked to the health of the marine environment. Every action that takes place upstream has consequences downstream, eventually affecting estuaries, coastal habitats and the wildlife that depends upon them. This important connection formed the basis of the Marine Resilience Project, delivered by the Brecon Beacons Local Nature Partnership in collaboration with the Usk Catchment Partnership and the Severn Estuary Partnership.

Funded through the Welsh Government’s Marine Resilience Fund, the project aimed to help communities understand how the river systems of the Usk Catchment influence the wider marine environment. By exploring the life cycles of migratory fish such as salmon and shad, the project demonstrated how species rely on healthy rivers and healthy seas throughout different stages of their lives.

Between January and March 2026, the project team delivered four community engagement events across the Usk Catchment. These included activities at Welsh Dark Skies Week in Brecon Cathedral, a community event at Y Gaer in Brecon, and sessions with Ser Ffermio and Trecastle Young Farmers Club. The aim was to help people discover how their actions can impact water quality, biodiversity and the resilience of marine ecosystems beyond the communities in which they live.

Central to the project was the use of an interactive River Table, a hands-on educational tool that enabled participants to create landscapes, shape river systems and observe how activities upstream influence conditions downstream. Participants were drawn to its interactive nature, asking questions and exploring how water moves through the landscape, sparking conversations about pollution, habitat protection and the shared responsibility we all have in looking after our waterways.

The project reached 350 people across the four events, engaging families, farmers, community groups and local residents.

The project strengthened relationships between partner organisations. Staff from the Brecon Beacons Local Nature Partnership and the Severn Estuary Partnership exchanged knowledge and developed new educational resources, increasing the capacity of both organisations to deliver future environmental learning activities.

Through bringing the story of rivers and seas to life, this Marine Resilience Project has encouraged people to think beyond their immediate surroundings. It allowed local residents to consider how local actions can create positive environmental impacts far downstream, safeguarding freshwater habitats and supporting resilient marine ecosystems and thriving wildlife along the entire river-to-sea journey.