Tidelines’ Salmon Run is a unique community event to celebrate the endangered Atlantic Salmon and explore what it can teach us about the health of our river. We bring science, arts and physical activity together to encourage people to actively care for the river and participate in river habitat improvement.

This fundraiser will fund the Salmon Run community running event, Salmon festival and river habitat improvements for salmon. 

Salmon are an indicator of the health of the whole river system. They need clean, cold, water to thrive. Atlantic Salmon are subject to multiple threats impacting different life stages. Restoration of physical habitat is vital.  In 2023 the Atlantic Salmon went on the IUCN Red List for endangered species which means they are seriously at risk across the UK.

We need to raise £7500 for:
Salmon Run event costs (materials, permissions, infrastructure, food, transport etc)
Education and outreach (workshops, publicity, printing, marketing etc)
Personnel (medics, run director, performers, photograper etc)
School and community visits (props and resources, education consultant, delivery etc)
The tree-planting day: tree guards, equipment and personnel.
A podcast and a short video* that could be a gamechanger allowing us to increase the reach of the salmon and river health message and to involve even more people. (*We have been trying todo this for the last 2 years!)

Combining a 45-mile Ultra, and a team relay from the sea to the spawning grounds, the Salmon Run involves people in the epic migratory journey of the Atlantic Salmon. Salmon Run provides multiple ways to take part with running distances for all levels, stewarding and volunteering, podcasts and a festival.

'I learnt that I can run, not just for myself, but also for my community, as we celebrate the natural world.' Salmon Run participant

Through the run itself, at a festival at Sideshore in Exmouth and along the route with games, information and creative workshops, we build links and knowledge among the riverside communities. Scientists, archaeologists, anglers and artists are all part of the event, sharing knowledge and ideas to explore serious issues particularly in light of the climate and nature crisis. 

We inspire personal and community action for the river and work closely with the Westcountry Rivers Trust who are working to improve conditions for Atlantic Salmon on the Exe and also through Friends of the River Exe (FORE). We also work with Sideshore Community, Wild Running and Parkrun Exmouth.

Westcountry Rivers Trust has been actively improving river habitat across the southwest catchments through projects to bolster freshwater ecosystems. One way to do this is through tree planting along rivers. Increased agriculture and browsing pressure in the landscape bordering our upland rivers has removed many trees and halted the growth of diverse vegetation. Trees provide richer feeding opportunities through providing insect habitat and enhance the river ecosystem with leaf and coarse materials providing food and shelter for all sorts of animals. Trees also provide resilience against climate change, through shading, vital in Southern England as the warming climate threatens the already endangered Atlantic salmon. The benefits continue, as when trees succumb to the wind or are dragged in by beavers, the woody material helps create a diverse habitat in the river which provides refuge for all different life stages of fish.  Your donation to Salmon Run will contribute towards the planting of a key wooded area in the headwaters of the Exe, a critical spawning ground for salmon giving all the ability to directly support these incredible fish.

This is where you come in! Please donate what you can. Aviva have kindly agreed to match funds raised through this site – so every pound you can give is worth two.


And check out these oppotunities open to you if you donate!

Opt in to get  a print of an estuary painting, a day as a fishery scientist with WRT, a guided bird watching walk in Topsham, an art kit for budding artists from the Thelma Hulbert or serious trail running mentoring from the founder of Wild Running! 

Tidelines is a community-led CIC (Community Interest Company) that brings together arts, science, action and research to celebrate and care for the Exe estuary and coast at a time of climate and nature crisis, reweaving the connections between people and the living landscape.

Please keep an eye on our social media @exetidelines (Fbk and Insta) and tidelines (Bluesky). More info at https://tidelines.uk/

Thanks so much in advance for your support!

'a powerful way to improve people's awareness of the environment' Salmon Run participant

'Joy in connecting with other people across generations, and in connecting with a salmon's body through my own' Salmon Run participant