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Cleaner Nidd, Fit for Life

Nidd Action Group


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Now you can help make the Nidd and its tributaries better!


"NAG has worked with The Environment Agency (EA) and Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust (YDRT) to put up interactive signs next to the Nidd and major tributaries Oak Beck and Crimple Beck, at 10 locations in the Harrogate and Knaresborough areas. The one pictured is at Oak Beck Park.
Part of a pilot national project, funded by the EA, we hope you find the system informative, useful and even fun!

The aims of the project are for citizens and visitors to use a 'smart' software system connecting with the public via their smartphones (QR codes or text messages), to:

  • look after their regular spots for swimming or other waterside leisure activities on the Nidd, Oak beck and Crimple beck
  • receive information about the rivers and their health
  • learn about the different types and sources of pollution
  • report what you see in the river and on its banks to the EA
  • ask your own questions and receive some 'real time' answers, and
  • tell us what your concerns are about our rivers and becks
Remember it is a pilot system, and the information that is available to you now will develop in the light of your experience. It will get smarter and more helpful over time!

Everything you tell the system is anonymous and may help improve the health of our river Nidd

Let us know how you get on and what you think!

Our Aims
Where are we at
Recent News

Our Aims

A Cleaner Nidd, Fit for Life

Make rivers safe for all.
Rivers should be safe for everyone - from invertebrates (which are a vital part of the food chain) to fish, birds, animals and people.
Stop sewage pollution.
End the illegal release of untreated sewage into the River Nidd
Raise the bar.
Improve standards, so legally discharged waste doesn't harm the River Nidd

Where are we at

'A summary of NAG's 2023' Read the Stray Ferret article here


  • A bid has been submitted for Designated Bathing Water Status for The Lido. Read more here and here

  • 'The Lido now has designated Bathing Water Status as a result of community pressure, and Environment Agency is undertaking weekly E. Coli samples. To see the latest results Bathing water quality

  • Yorkshire Water have proposed investment in sewage treatment and the sewerage network in their business plan for 2025-2030 Read more here and here.

  • A document from January 2024 summarises very briefly what NAG did in 2023, with links to two maps showing the results of our sampling in terms of human health and chemical pollution at the 45 locations sampled. View it here. The document also identifies what we don't yet know and therefore what we need to do to fill in those gaps in our knowledge during 2024 and beyond, building on what we have discovered during our 2023 surveys Detailed specific plans based on this analysis will develop over the next few months


Don't forget that NAG has a Facebook page so please keep in touch


Recent News

16th October 2024
3rd October 2024
Lido Bathing Water Safety Update

The bathing water season has ended for the Nidd at Knaresborough's Lido (though not for Knaresborough's hardy wild swimmers, who keep swimming throughout the year)

That means that Environment Agency weekly monitoring for E. coli concentrations (a marker for risk to human health when swimming) ceases. There is still one more data value to be published. Bathing water profile (data.gov.uk)

The latest available concentration on September 20th is 1700 cfus

Above 900 cfus the water is regarded as POOR for swimming, and requires investigation and improvement

Of the 20 samples taken so far 75% have shown POOR quality, with extreme concentrations of 9300 on July 15th and 5800 on September 10th.

This link provides more details of NAG's activities at the Lido and along the whole of the river Nidd, and the research into the Nidd that NAG is involved with, including some results we are expecting within weeks.

Now we await the Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water's response to this information, and NAG intends to work closely with them and other stakeholders to make rapid and sustainable improvements in water quality
22 August 2024
OFWAT fine and the future of the Nidd

The whopping fine by OFWAT to Yorkshire Water is now a couple of weeks old. NAG has held back its comments to let the dust settle before providing some rational suggestions for what needs to change in order to have improved river water quality.

We have met with our new MP, Tom Gordon, at The Lido, see the attached NAG briefing document we provided for him.

NAG has a meeting arranged in early September with the Head of Yorkshire Water's River Health team

Collaborative activities with the major stakeholders, organised by YDRT and NAG, are being discussed in September.
We are working hard with others to improve the Nidd



22 August 2024
Historical report by BCG on pollution in Oak Beck.

Keith Wilkinson and his colleagues from the Bilton Conservation Group produced this report in 2022 about pollution in Oak Beck, Harrogate over the years.

BCG have worked for decades, and continue to work on getting the beck clean and healthy.

This report was submitted to the leaders of DEFRA, OFWAT, North Yorkshire County Council and Yorkshire Water in an attempt to get some action to improve the river.

The report contains a wealth of relevant information for us all to guide continuing efforts to improve the river.


3rd July 2024
Upcoming event "The River Wharfe: its wonders and its woes"

Saturday July 20th from 1.30 onwards at St Peters Church Hall, Addingham, Ilkley

An afternoon (and evening if you want some hands on outdoors stuff) all about the Wharfe. Displays, talks and discussion details attached

The Wharfe, the Nidd's bigger neighbour, was the inspiration for NAG's citizen science work and getting Bathing Water Status.

They are a great bunch of people and we still have a lot to learn from them. I am going! More details here
13 May 2024
Listen to NAG's wild swimmers plus David Clayden talking with Jim Addyman of Radio York about the background to NAG's origins and the point of getting Bathing Water status for The Lido (interviews are at approx 07:08am and 08:09am on the bulletin)
Date 16th April 2024
Date 16th April 2024
Date 16th April 2024
Date: 31 March 2024
Date: 28 March 2024
Date: 18 February 2024

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