It's the Big River Watch this weekend with The Rivers Trust

Monday 2nd Sep 2024

This is a big weekend for rivers! The Rivers Trust have got their September Big River Watch weekend from the 6th to 12th September, and you can be a part of it. It's a great opportunity to help the Rivers Trust help our rivers. It only takes 15 minutes to do, and you can survey more than one river stretch!

In the UK the news has been full of the health of our rivers, and in particular how much pollution there is in them and the damage that is doing.

The health of our rivers affects us all

Even the even sporting groups have got involved because of health fears about the impact pollution will have on those taking part in river-based activities such as kayaking canoeing and wild swimming.

The impact on our wildlife must be devastating; polluted rivers hardly help them survive and thrive.
#StateOfOurRivers

Please take part in the Big River Watch

The Rivers Trust are asking us to help them to build a clearer picture of the health of our rivers in the UK and Ireland By taking part in the Big River Watch.

All you have to do is follow these three steps:

Download the free Big River Watch app, available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Take part! Visit your local river, or explore a new one, and spend 15 minutes observing and recording what you see in the simple in-app survey.
Press upload and share your findings.

The September Big River Watch is from 6th to 12th September 2024

It's a great chance to get outdoors and do something meaningful for nature, wildlife and human health. Be a part of this journey to change our rivers' state for the better! Information is power, and that's what The Rivers Trust need to move change forward and help them persuade politicians to take river health seriously. There was also a watch in May 2024.

What happens with your findings

Your reported findings will enable The Rivers Trust to gather vital information on wildlife sightings and pollution levels. This information can be used in three ways:

To drive policy change
To support river cleanups
To identify those areas which urgently need restoring

Please join in! Use #BigRiverWatch and tag us @theriverstrust on social media whilst you survey your river this weekend!

Last year, over Big River Watchers submitted 3,600 surveys and they captured various wildlife sightings:

1,500 people recorded seeing ducks
414 saw riverflies
352 recorded seeing kingfishers

Why not help a bit more?

There are 60 River Trusts around the UK and Ireland, all working to improve the state of our rivers. They run volunteer events regularly, and it's easy to find out what's going on. From creating habitat to removing litter and invasive species and testing water quality or taking part in the Big River Watch (which occurs twice a year), there will be something you can do. Find your local Trust here.