East Wicklow Rivers Trust

Protecting, conserving and improving Wicklow’s surface water bodies

The East Wicklow Rivers Trust formed in 2019 from a core group of people who had come together with concerns about the impact of water flow on the Vartry river.

The Trust covers an area of over 1300 square kilometers, stretching from Bray to Arklow. Our area of interest includes the Vartry, Avoca, and Dargle rivers, and all the other rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands that flow to the Irish Sea in County Wicklow.

Trusts are independent community-led charitable organisations that delivery education, water management advice and practical conservation work.

News
8th October - European Dam Removal Day
8th October - European Dam Removal Day

East Wicklow Rivers Trust invites you to join us to celebrate European Dam Removal day on the 8th October in Ashford Community and Heritage Centre at 19.30.

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17th September - Bat Walk in Aughrim Village
17th September - Bat Walk in Aughrim Village

East Wicklow Rivers Trust, Aughrim Tidy Towns and Aughrim Community Sports and Leisure Association invite you to join us for a bat walk in Aughrim Village on 17th September at 7:30pm.

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25th August - Water Heritage Day
25th August - Water Heritage Day

Monday 25th August 2025

Today is World Heritage Day, supported by Local Authority Water Programme.

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The Shaking Bog’s Riverscapes
The Shaking Bog’s Riverscapes

Yesterday we enjoyed a very special day at Riverscapes in the Glencree Valley, a fantastic event “In a Field by the River” was hosted by The Shaking Bog funded by Local Authority Waters Programme…

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Bird watching at Vartry Reservoir
Bird watching at Vartry Reservoir

We had a beautiful evening and a fantastic turn out for our National Heritage Week birdwatching event at the Vartry Reservoir last night…

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20th August - Bird watching at Vartry Reservoir
20th August - Bird watching at Vartry Reservoir

Wednesday 20th August 2025, 7pm

East Wicklow Rivers Trust & Roundwood Tidy Towns Biodiversity Group invite you to join us for a Birdwatching walk at the Vartry Reservoir.

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A reflection on the The River Alive event
A reflection on the The River Alive event

The Avonmore Catchment Collective enjoyed a beautiful day on the Avonbeg River in the Glenmalure Valley on the 21st July 2025.


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SpongeWorks On The Aughrim River
SpongeWorks On The Aughrim River

We’re delighted to be partnering with Wicklow County Council, the Wicklow Uplands Council and LAWPRO to participate in an EU Horizon project which aims to improve how Europe manages water, land and climate risks.

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19th July - The River Alive
19th July - The River Alive

Join us on Saturday 19th July to celebrate the Avonbeg River in the Glenmalure Valley through poetry, ecology and exploration.

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Webinar recording - Restoring Upland Gully Woodland
Webinar recording - Restoring Upland Gully Woodland

Watch the webinar recording focused on our Upland Gully Woodland Community Climate Action Project for Earth Day 2025 in collaboration with Wicklow Uplands Council.

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Ballinglen barrier removal project published as an EU case study
Ballinglen barrier removal project published as an EU case study

Our project to remove a barrier to fish migration has been published as a case study in a European context.

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Webinar recording - The Installation of a Rock Ramp at Ballinglen Bridge
Webinar recording - The Installation of a Rock Ramp at Ballinglen Bridge

Removing a Barrier to Fish Migration - The Installation of a Rock Ramp at Ballinglen Bridge

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23rd May - Webinar on Removing a Barrier to Fish Migration
23rd May - Webinar on Removing a Barrier to Fish Migration

Join us in celebrating World Fish Migration Day 2025 and National Biodiversity Week for an online webinar on the restoration of fish passage on the Ballinglen River, Aughrim, Co. Wicklow

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Eco Volunteer Of The Year nomination
Eco Volunteer Of The Year nomination

We’re thrilled to have been nominated for the Eco Hero Award 2024 with Outsider.ie

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“Where the river rises” with Jane Clarke
“Where the river rises” with Jane Clarke

On the Lyric Feature on Sunday 2nd February, poet Jane Clarke presented Where the River Rises. Here, through poetry and conversation with local ecologists and naturalists, she explored the Avonmore River in County Wicklow.

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Restoration of Fisheries Habitat on the Ballinglen River
Restoration of Fisheries Habitat on the Ballinglen River
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Avoca and Avonmore Vision Report
Avoca and Avonmore Vision Report

We’re delighted to share a detailed vision document for the Avoca and Avonmore catchment, prepared by Dr. Tom Harrington and Faith Wilson under the direction of East Wicklow Rivers Trust.

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Events

Events
Aughrim Village Bat Walk
Sep 17
Aughrim Village Bat Walk

East Wicklow Rivers Trust, Aughrim Tidy Towns and Aughrim Community Sports and Leisure Association invite you to join us for a bat walk in Aughrim Village on 17th September at 7:30pm.

European Dam Removal Day
Oct 8
European Dam Removal Day

East Wicklow Rivers Trust invites you to join us to celebrate European Dam Removal day on the 8th October in Ashford Community and Heritage Centre at 19.30.

Events
Bird watching walk at Vartry Reservoir
Aug 20
Bird watching walk at Vartry Reservoir

East Wicklow Rivers Trust & Roundwood Tidy Towns Biodiversity Group invite you to join us for a Birdwatching walk at the Vartry Reservoir.

The River Alive
Jul 19
The River Alive

An immersive guided walk along the Avonbeg River in the extraordinary setting of the Glenmalure Valley.

Removing a Barrier to Fish Migration - The Installation of a Rock Ramp at Ballinglen Bridge
May 23
Removing a Barrier to Fish Migration - The Installation of a Rock Ramp at Ballinglen Bridge

Join East Wicklow Rivers Trust in celebrating World Fish Migration Day 2025 and National Biodiversity Week for an online webinar on the restoration of fish passage on the Ballinglen River, Aughrim, Co. Wicklow.

Right Tree, Right Place – Upland Gully Woodlands for Climate Resilience
Apr 22
Right Tree, Right Place – Upland Gully Woodlands for Climate Resilience

Join us this Earth Day!

East Wicklow Rivers Trust, Wicklow Uplands Council and our project partners An Oige are delighted to invite you to a live webinar: Right Tree, Right Place – Upland Gully Woodlands for Climate Resilience 

Does farming impact water more than water impacts farming?
Nov 21
Does farming impact water more than water impacts farming?

East Wicklow Rivers Trust would like to welcome landowners and members of the farming community to this event, to discuss “Does farming impact water more than water impacts farming?”

Mammals of the Devil's Glen and Vartry River
Nov 2
Mammals of the Devil's Glen and Vartry River

Join us as we look for signs of mammals using the river

and adjoining woodlands.

An evening of river ecology and poems
Sep 11
An evening of river ecology and poems

Join the East Wicklow Rivers Trust and poet Jane Clarke for an evening of river ecology and poems on the Avonbeg River in the Glenmalure Valley on the 11th September meeting at 6.30pm

Exploring the Vartry - Celebrating Water Day
Aug 25
Exploring the Vartry - Celebrating Water Day

Join Wicklow Uplands Council for a special event celebrating Water Day as part of Heritage Week!

Vartry River Bird Watching
Jul 16
Vartry River Bird Watching

East Wicklow Rivers Trust invites you to a river birdwatching walk along the Vartry

Exploring pond ecology
Jun 27
Exploring pond ecology

An introduction by Ecologist Faith Wilson on the ecology of the pond at IDA Business Park Ballynattin Arklow

Reconnecting Wicklow Rivers
May 25
Reconnecting Wicklow Rivers

Reconnecting Wicklow Rivers from Harbour to Headwaters

Riverside Workshop: Wicklow’s Bluedot Rivers
May 21
Riverside Workshop: Wicklow’s Bluedot Rivers

East Wicklow Rivers Trust (EWRT) & LAWPRO are coming together to deliver a ‘Blue Dot’ Water Workshop along Ballycreen Brook (Macreddin River), Aughrim.

Trout in Strange Places
May 12
Trout in Strange Places