It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer scale of environmental challenges facing our planet. The news often paints a grim picture, and for many, the path to making a difference can seem unclear, or even impossible. But what if we shifted our focus from the daunting global to the impactful local? What if we discovered that positive change is not only possible, but is already being quietly and passionately driven by individuals right in our own communities?
That’s precisely the spirit behind Sustainable Three Rivers, a group born from a blend of idealism and a powerful desire for tangible local action. I recently had the pleasure of speaking with its co-founders, Rosi Jordon and Annabel Foley, to uncover the untold story of how they ignited a movement, faced unexpected challenges, and what they need to keep their vital work blossoming.
From Idealism to Action: The Genesis of Sustainable Three Rivers
The story of Sustainable Three Rivers is a testament to how personal conviction can blossom into collective action. Rosi and Annabel’s journey began quite serendipitously during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both were involved with an environmental group further afield, and while they admired the group’s efforts, they realised their own community in the Three Rivers district lacked a similar local focus.
“It was total naivety and idealism,” Annabel chuckles, recalling their initial ambition. “We thought, ‘Oh, we can transform this overnight!'”
Their shared the desire was to focus on what the average person could do in their daily lives. When Annabel reached out to Three Rivers Council, she discovered that while the council had declared a climate emergency in 2019 and was working on internal changes, there wasn’t a detailed strategy for engaging the wider community at that time. This gap sparked their resolve: if the council wasn’t ready yet, perhaps they could be.
With the help of a kind neighbour, their vision quickly materialised into a website, Sustainable Three Rivers. The name was carefully chosen, not just for the district it serves, but for the powerful double meaning of “sustainable rivers.”
Weaving the Fabric of Community: Early Goals and Unexpected Discoveries
Initially, Rosi and Annabel set out with ambitious goals:
- A “one-stop shop” website: A resource where individuals could find friendly, readable information and local links on various sustainability topics, from water and energy to food.
- Promoting local groups: There were many existing environmental groups, but they often operated in silos. Sustainable Three Rivers aimed to offer a platform to promote their work, especially for those less active online.
- Engaging with local politics: Building relationships with councillors to ensure sustainability remained front of mind, but while, importantly, staying neutral politically.
While networking with councillors proved successful – Annabel proudly states they have a “very good network” and are increasingly “respected” – the path to community engagement held some surprises. They initially envisioned large-scale events, but soon learned that for a volunteer-led organisation, clear, simple tasks were key.
“We set ourselves big targets,” Annabel reflects, realising that while their broad reach was a goal, starting smaller fostered a stronger sense of belonging. “One of the biggest benefits is people feeling that they’re part of a community.”
Fuelling a Greener Future, One Story at a Time. Every small step we take – from reusable bags to conscious consumption – ripples outwards, creating a wave of hope. Let’s rewrite the story of our planet, one click at a time. I believe in the power of storytelling. By sharing inspiring environmental initiatives, unsung sustainability heroes and practical tips, I aim to amplify the voices making a difference. Imagine a world where everyone is empowered to take action, one small change at a time. ‘Buy Me A Coffee’ donation is a quick and easy way to offer a small, one-off donation, that helps keep this platform running and allows me to continue sharing these vital stories. Just click the “Donate” button (top right corner). Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference. Thank you for being a part of this journey.
Nurturing Growth: The Community Garden and Unsung Heroes
This realisation led to the success of their Community Garden, in the heart of Rickmansworth. What began with grand plans evolved into a thriving hub where volunteers could engage in clear, tangible activities. “The community garden has been so good because then you can have a team of volunteers who know on a Monday between this hour and this hour go down there. They know what they are doing. Very simple,” Rosi explains. With a focus on being ‘climate resilient’ from the start, even the construction was carefully considered, adding ‘biochar’ to the raised beds, for water retention and soil regeneration and organic water retaining gel to the compost. Combine that with choosing plants that can cope better with less water and are adapted for warm weather, the garden does a lot for the local wildlife and biodiversity.
The garden, along with the Community Orchard and Rose Garden, all close to Three Rivers House in central Rickmansworth, has become a true success story, attracting more and more people. It’s a visible testament to what community effort can achieve.
Sustainable Three Rivers is also dedicated to highlighting individuals and groups making a difference. From the dedicated garden volunteers to partnerships with local libraries, ‘pollinator-friendly’ hanging basket workshops to bug-box building with primary and secondary school pupils they are slowly but surely rippling out, fostering connections and educating the community.
The Next Chapter: A Call for Baseline Funding
This brings us to their most pressing need. Currently, Sustainable Three Rivers operates entirely on volunteer power and ad-hoc project funding. While this has allowed them to achieve remarkable things, sustained growth and broader community engagement are difficult without a stable financial foundation.
“We need some baseline funding to allow further reach into the community,” Rosi explains. This funding isn’t about lavish offices or salaries, but about enabling them to:
- Expand outreach: Move beyond “preaching to the converted” and engage those who aren’t already focused on sustainability.
- Develop new initiatives: Like Annabel’s idea for a blister pack collection point in the library, which could become a new community hub for sustainability information, but requires initial investment for collection bins and logistics.
- Support workshops: Bring in specialists for educational workshops on topics beyond biodiversity, like the highly impactful “Transition Streets” programme, which needs funding to be translated effectively for wider public consumption.
- Streamline operations: Cover small, but vital, administrative costs, like running the website, that currently rely on individual volunteers.
By securing some baseline funding, Sustainable Three Rivers can transform from a passionate, volunteer-driven initiative into an even more impactful force for change, truly embedding sustainability into the fabric of the Three Rivers community.
Lend a Hand, Grow Our Community: Volunteer with Sustainable Three Rivers!
Sustainable Three Rivers is on the lookout for enthusiastic volunteers to help cultivate a greener, more sustainable community! 🌱 Whether you have a green thumb and want to help out at the community garden, enjoy connecting with people at local gatherings and can lend a hand at an event, or fancy representing them at the monthly Rickmansworth Market stand, there’s a role for you. And it can be just a few hours! They also need support behind the scenes with administrative tasks.
Perhaps you’ve even got a brilliant, sustainable idea that could benefit our community and are keen to help bring it to life through our group? Whatever your skills or interests, your contribution can make a real difference. Am pleased to say that I am now part of the ‘Comms’ team and happily writing just a few articles for their website. If you’re passionate about sustainability and ready to get involved, get in touch with them via their website or social media (Instagram and Facebook) links below.
Rosi and Annabel’s journey with Sustainable Three Rivers is a powerful reminder that local action, born from idealism and sustained by dedication, can genuinely reshape our communities and challenge our preconceived notions of what’s possible. Loving what these ‘unsung heroes’ are achieving and they’re proof that even seemingly small steps, when multiplied by community spirit, can lead to profound and lasting change.
What local “unsung heroes” are making a difference in your area? Perhaps their stories are waiting to be told!
LINKS:
Sustainable Three Rivers Website
Instagram: Sustainable3rivers
Facebook: Sustainable Three Rivers