A walk on the Wharfe side

Emmeline and Mark are travelling the entire length of the local river as part of Extinction Rebellion’s World Water Wedding Campaign ...

Last month, on 4 October, I embarked on an 81-mile walk with my partner Mark, following the River Wharfe from its source at Beckermonds to where it joins the River Ouse.

Our venture is part of Extinction Rebellion’s World Water Wedding Campaign and will conclude with a ceremony on World Water Day (22 March 2026), joining people around the world committing to caring for their local river source.

We are both concerned about the growing climate emergency and joined Extinction Rebellion three years ago. We are carrying flags and banners on our walk, inviting conversations with people we meet, listening to memories and encouraging an emotional connection with the river.

Our route will pass 20 sewage works and, with sewage discharge a known pollution issue in rivers, we are also testing the water quality at various points, adding data to results being collected for the biannual citizen science campaign, Great UK Water Blitz.

Last week we walked from Bolton Abbey through to Pool-in-Wharfedale, passing through Addingham, Ilkley, Ben Rhydding and Otley.

“We knew that river pollution from the sewage works around Ilkley were a big issue, but the water testing we did along this stretch of the river really brought it home to us,” said Mark.

“The water quality was really good at Bolton Abbey, but at the end of the day’s walk we tested again after Ben Rhydding and the results were the worst possible score on the chart. For the water quality to deteriorate so quickly was shocking.”

We see the walk as an energising way to connect more deeply with our local river and to boost our wellbeing and emotional resilience as we continue our environmental activism.

We love to visit the River Wharfe at least once a week and we have seen it dry up during droughts and flood after major storms. But our water sources are threatened by pollution, sewage, rubbish, droughts and extreme weather. They need our love and respect and we want to encourage others to pledge to take action to help us protect them.

We were inspired by a recent ceremony on the River Nidd and are planning to hold a river celebration ceremony in Ilkley on 22 March 2026 featuring Extinction Rebellion’s ‘Blue Water Rebels’ performers, who will make offerings of flowers to the river.

We are inviting members of the public to give flowers and make pledges to the river in what we intend to be a beautiful and meaningful ceremony.