Sam Frith wins River Champion award

Congratulations to Sam Frith, our Community Engagement Coordinator at Earthwatch, who won a “River Champion” award from the River Restoration Centre this month for her voluntary work on the Evenlode!

Sam went above and beyond as a volunteer: testing water quality at multiple sites, reporting pollution incidents, meeting with her government representatives, and working on development issues to name but a few activities she’s engaged in! We are so pleased she has been able to join the ECP as a regular member of staff.

The River Restoration Centre said:

“Sam’s journey into volunteering began with water quality testing, but her thirst for knowledge quickly became insatiable. She started tracking sewage spills daily and soon found herself fully immersed in all things river-related—devouring literature, seeking guidance from others, attending events like the River Summit, and eagerly signing up for any available training.

Organizing a local ‘Source to Sewage’ walk-and-talk event to raise awareness about river pollution propelled Sam’s involvement to new heights. She founded a local group, ‘Riverlution Evenlode,’ and persistently engaged with her local government and MP. Determined to take action, she sought out contacts within the Environment Agency and Thames Water, collaborating with them to report pollution incidents. Refusing to accept dismissive responses, she pushed back—speaking louder and clearer each time, even to journalists. Her relentless efforts made her a key figure in exposing PFAS contamination in the catchment.

Additionally, she has played a key role in opposing local building applications by proving that the sewage treatment works lack the capacity to support them. Sam also took up riverfly surveying, conducting public demonstrations, and has since earned her advanced riverfly certification.

Sam’s unwavering dedication to rivers, combined with her relentless passion and drive, has earned her the title of River Champion!”