Young people in Wales are campaigning for clean rivers ahead of the Senedd Elections in May 2026.
Freshwater in Wales is under pressure from agricultural pollution, sewage discharges and policy failures that have left rivers, lakes and coastal waters degraded and unsafe.
Not So Freshwater is UK Youth for Nature’s youth-led campaign in Wales, running throughout 2026 in the lead-up to the Senedd election and beyond.
Our goal is simple: to make freshwater health and the impacts of agricultural chemicals visible, unavoidable and taken seriously in Welsh politics.
We believe young people have a right to clean water, healthy ecosystems and a say in the decisions shaping Wales’ future.
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Our Voices for Freshwater
Dan
Jake
Freya
Liliana
What we’re doing in Wales this year:
From January to July 2026, we're working with young people across Wales to bring lived experience, evidence and constructive pressure into the election conversation.
Our work includes:
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Convening meetings between young people and Members of the Senedd
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Gathering and sharing youth testimonies on water pollution and river health
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Publishing clear, Wales-specific policy asks on freshwater and farming
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Working with media to ensure freshwater isn’t ignored during the election
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Creating a public record of commitments that we will return to after the election
Throughout this campaign, UK Youth for Nature remains strictly non-partisan. Our role is to convene, inform and hold decision-makers to account in whoever forms the next Welsh Government.
UKY4N: Senedd Election Manifesto 2026
UK Youth for Nature’s manifesto sets out the key actions young people believe are essential for making a thriving nature-rich Wales possible. Our key asks for the next Welsh Government reflect our vision for a country where wildlife is in recovery, communities are resilient, and decision-making is guided by long-term stewardship.
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The quailty of our freshwater ecosystems impacts:
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Where we can swim, paddle and surf
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The health of wildlife and local landscapes
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Farming futures and rural livelihoods
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Climate resilience in the face of floods and droughts
Young people across Wales are already seeing the impacts of polluted rivers and failing systems. Our Not So Freshwater campaign centres on these lived experiences and ensures young people are heard where decisions are made.
Freshwater matters
Voices for Freshwater
Across Wales, young people are speaking up about the state of our rivers, lakes and streams. They’re sharing local insight, lived experience and calls for change during the Senedd election year.
