I’ve spent a lot of my 40 years along the River Soar, I remember when kingfishers flashed along the banks, when the water felt alive, when you could stand at Aylestone Meadows and feel part of something resilient. Sadly today, that feeling is gone.
The river is in such severe decline that we’re holding a funeral, and I need people to understand that this isn’t a stunt, this is us fighting for the truth,
On Saturday 24th October at 12pm, we’ll gather at Aylestone Meadows for a slow, reflective procession along the river. It’s a moment to acknowledge what’s been lost, not just wildlife, not just water quality, but truth.
For years we’ve been told everything is improving, that clean‑ups and photo‑ops are signs of recovery, but the evidence says otherwise. 2,317 hours of sewage discharge last year, zero stretches achieving good ecological status, and ongoing declines in species that once defined the river’s character. You don’t need to be a scientist to see the Soar is under chronic stress.
A funeral might sound dramatic, but not when an ecosystem is dying. This event is about removing the filter, letting people see the river as it is, not as PR campaigns want it to be. It’s about standing together in grief, anger, and determination.
Ahead of the procession, we’ll be hosting a calm, creative placard‑making session with recycled materials. It’s a chance to gather, talk, and prepare messages that reflect what the river means to each of us.
I’m asking you to come, not because turnout looks good in photos, but because the river’s decline is real, measurable, and happening in our community. The funeral is a line in the sand, a moment to say we refuse to accept a dying river as normal.
Our recent Protect the Soar letter is at 870 signatures and we have received hundreds and hundreds of stories from those of you who use the river. You have told us what it means to you and the decline you have seen, so this is your chance to come and speak up.
If you’ve ever walked the Soar, if you’ve ever cared about the wildlife it once held, or if you simply believe in environmental truth over convenience, I hope you’ll join us.
The river cannot speak for itself, that responsibility falls to us, and for one will not be quiet until we see a change.
Sarah- Clean River Action