Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust Open Day 2026 at the Rivers4Life Exhibition

Discover the Rivers4Life Exhibition

Join us for a special Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust Open Day on Saturday 27 June, taking place within our Rivers4Life exhibition at the Dales Countryside Museum, Hawes, from 1pm.

This unique event offers visitors the chance to explore our family-friendly exhibition celebrating the rivers, wildlife and catchments of the Yorkshire Dales, while also taking part in guided walks, live demonstrations and expert talks showcasing our conservation work across the region.

Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Rivers4Life runs daily from 6 June to 27 September 2026, open 10am–4pm, seven days a week.

The exhibition features creative work produced through workshops with Yorkshire Dales schools and community groups, including residents from a Richmond care home and refugee groups in Catterick and Ripon. Visitors can also enjoy the winning entries from our photography competition, highlighting the beauty of Yorkshire Dales rivers, catchments and wildlife throughout the seasons.



Rivers4Life also explores the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust’s wider conservation work, including:

·        Natural Flood Management (NFM)

·        River restoration and habitat improvement

·        Fish passage and barrier removal projects

·        Tackling pollution from historic metal mining

·        Invasive species management

·        Habitat restoration initiatives

Open Day Programme

1pm–3pm: Guided Learning Walk and Riverfly Demonstration

Join our team for a guided walk around Hawes to learn about local conservation projects, including Natural Flood Management schemes. The walk will also feature a live Riverfly monitoring demonstration.

2pm: Natural Flood Management Case Studies

If you are unable to join the walk, visit the museum meeting room to discover real-world examples of Natural Flood Management projects and their benefits for local communities and river ecosystems.

3.15pm: Metal Mine Pollution Presentation

Learn how historic metal mining continues to impact Yorkshire Dales rivers through heavy metal pollution, and discover the work being undertaken to address and remediate these environmental challenges.

4pm: River Barriers Presentation

Find out how structures such as weirs, fords and culverts can affect river health and wildlife, particularly migratory fish species, and hear about ongoing projects to improve river connectivity.

Special performance: Tributaries

The day concludes with an outdoor performance of Tributaries at 5pm, a Ripon and Wensleydale community theatre production.

This engaging performance explores the spirit of the River Ure, bringing to life its history, folklore and enduring importance to the communities that have lived along its banks through the ages.

Please note: Booking for Tributaries is separate from Open Day activities.

Additional performances will take place:

•             28 June 2026 – Dales Countryside Museum

•             4 July 2026 – Ripon Workhouse Museum

Book Your Place

Places for the guided walk, presentations and Tributaries performances can be booked using the buttons below: