RAZOR: Putting the wiggles back in rivers

Rivers are on the edge.

Pollution, rubbish, sewage, agricultural runoff, and drought are putting freshwater ecosystems under immense strain. Right now, only 14% of river catchments in England are in good ecological health.

Decades of human interference—often in the name of progress—have taken a toll. Around the world, many rivers have been straightened and cut off from their natural floodplains to make way for farming or development. But rivers aren't meant to be straight.

They're meant to meander.

Winding rivers help clean water naturally, reduce flooding, and support a rich variety of plants and animals. That's why, in the UK, a movement known as "re-wiggling" is gaining momentum—bringing back the curves and character of rivers that were lost.

RAZOR's Gabrielle Lawrence visited Norfolk, England, to see the impact of one such project—and how it's bringing a river back to life.

The River Stiffkey is a 29-kilometer chalk stream that flows from the countryside to the sea. Like many rivers, it was straightened decades ago to reclaim land for housing and farming. Over time, pollution from wastewater, intensive agriculture, and septic tanks began to damage its fragile ecosystem.

In response, the Norfolk Rivers Trust, along with hundreds of local volunteers, took on a major restoration effort. They reconnected a two-kilometer section of the river to its floodplain and used diggers to recreate its natural curves.

The transformation has been remarkable.

Egrets, otters, and kingfishers have returned. The water is cleaner. Biodiversity is bouncing back.

Across the country, similar re-wiggling projects are proving that it's possible for people and nature to thrive together. By giving rivers room to breathe—and bend—we're rediscovering how vital they are, not just for wildlife, but for us too.