We recently caught up with local resident Betti Moser to talk about Cheltenham’s river, and the part she and a group of other volunteers have been playing in protecting it.

Like many small urban rivers, the River Chelt plays a vital role – for wildlife, for water, and for how nature moves through the town. And increasingly, it is also becoming a focus for people who care about its future.

One of the groups helping to make that happen is Guardians of the River Chelt.

Their story begins, quite simply, with a walk.

In 2021 and early 2022, two friends set out to walk the length of the River Chelt, from its source near Dowdeswell to where it joins the Severn. Along the way, they discovered something that many people in Cheltenham might recognise – and much that they might not.

The source of the river around Dowdeswell was surprisingly hard to find. In town, the river often disappeared entirely beneath roads and car parks. And out in the fields to the west of town, access along much of the river was patchy, with footpaths often poorly connected or missing altogether.

But they also found something else.

They found that stretches of the river – particularly the less accessible ones – were lined with litter, in some places built up over many years. And at the same time, they found a river that was, in many places, unexpectedly beautiful.

Out of that experience came a simple idea: the River Chelt needed people to speak up for it.

In early 2024, the Guardians of the River Chelt were formed – a group with a clear purpose: to raise awareness, care for the river and reconnect people with this often overlooked part of Cheltenham’s landscape.

They began with litter picks in some of the most affected areas, helping to clear long-accumulated waste from the riverbanks. They have since partnered with the University of Gloucestershire to establish a team of volunteers who now monitor water quality at 16 locations along the river each month – recently marking a full year of regular testing.

Alongside this, they are also creating opportunities for people to connect with the river in different ways, from riverside walks and creative events like their Evening of River Stories at The Wilson, to longer-term ambitions.

One of those ambitions is to create a continuous, marked footpath following the River Chelt from Dowdeswell Woods to the Severn – making the river more visible, accessible and valued.

At the heart of all of this is a simple set of aims: to increase awareness and appreciation of the river, to speak up for it and protect it from pollution and degradation, and to reconnect communities with the river that runs through them.

As we think about nature recovery in Cheltenham, the River Chelt is a key part of that picture.

More than anything, their story is a reminder that nature in Cheltenham is not just in parks and gardens. It is also flowing through the town – sometimes hidden, sometimes overlooked, but full of life, and full of potential.

Follow the Guardians of the River Chelt on Instagram.

Read a recent report on the River Chelt by the Wild Trout Trust.