New stamps celebrate UK river wildlife

A Cardiff University academic has helped the royal mail to develop a set of 10 stamps that celebrate the diversity of birds, mammals, insects and fish that inhabit the UK’s rivers and streams.

The stamps were developed in collaboration with Professor Steve Ormerod from Cardiff University’s Water Research Institute. They feature beavers, Atlantic salmon, kingfisher, beautiful demoiselle, water vole, grey wagtail, common mayfly, otter, brown trout, and dipper.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy at Royal Mail, said: “The UK’s rivers and riversides are beautiful to look at, but how many of us stop to think about how they came to exist in the first place? In these stamps we celebrate our unique natural environment with a strong focus on the rich variety of creatures that live in and alongside our rivers.”

The stamps will be available to buy online or in the 7,000 Post Office branches across the UK from July 13.

“Freshwater wildlife is under threat around the world from pollution and other pressures – so these stamps are a timely reminder of the special, highly adapted, and diverse array of animals that need our own streams and rivers to be in healthy condition.

“The iconic species that feature on these stamps are under threat if we don’t maintain our rivers. Our research aims to protect the rivers of the UK – and these much-loved British species – for the future.

“This is such a wonderful way to celebrate the UK’s rivers and to send a message – quite literally – of why they are important,” said Professor Steve Ormerod.