Celebrate World Rivers Day with Not Bourne Yesterday

Celebrate World Rivers Day with Not Bourne Yesterday’s First Big Community Event.

This Sunday, 28 September, marks World Rivers Day – a global occasion to reconnect with our waterways, recognise their ecological and historical importance, and commit to protecting them for future generations.

Here in the Chilterns, we are fortunate to be home to some of the UK’s rare and precious chalk streams. The River Wye, rising quietly in West Wycombe and flowing for 10 miles through High Wycombe, Loudwater and Wooburn, is one such treasure. It is a river where history and nature meet: once powering waterwheels for local industry, today it supports kingfishers, brown trout, and countless invertebrates that make it an abundant wildlife habitat.

And what better day to celebrate it than World Rivers Day itself?

On Sunday 28 September, from 10am to 4pm, the Not Bourne Yesterday team will host their first major community event at Desborough Recreation Grounds, High Wycombe. Families, nature lovers, and curious locals alike are invited to explore, discover, and connect with the River Wye in a hands-on celebration.

Highlights of the day include:

• River dipping – bring your wellies and grab a net to explore aquatic life beneath the surface (you might even catch a fish!)
• Creative workshops – make artwork inspired by the creatures you find
• Guided history walk at 1pm – uncover the Wye’s story, from Iron Age hillforts to medieval paper mills

The event is free, family-friendly, and open to all — no booking required. Just look out for the gazebo by the car park.

“The River Wye is more than just a waterway – it’s a living thread that connects wildlife, industry, and community,” said the Not Bourne Yesterday team.

This World Rivers Day, join us to celebrate one of the Chilterns’ most remarkable chalk streams, while discovering how local history, biodiversity, and community all flow together.

Where: Desborough Recreation Grounds, High Wycombe
When: 10am–4pm, Sunday 28 September