Riverfly Monitoring

Over the bank holiday weekend, Suzanna Taylor organized a Guardians of the Tweed event in Peebles, focusing on the Eddleston water. This citizen science initiative aims to advocate for the well-being of our rivers by uniting the voices of our community. Our goal is to promote river health and vitality through active engagement and cooperation.

Riverflies are invertebrates that spend most of their life cycle in a river, stream, pond or lake. The three key groups are stoneflies, caddisflies and mayflies. Along with other freshwater invertebrates, they are at the heart of the freshwater ecosystem and are a vital link in the aquatic food chain. Their common characteristics of limited mobility, relatively long life cycle, presence throughout the year, and specific tolerances to changes in environmental conditions make them good indicators of water quality.

More than 270 species of mayflies, caddisflies and stoneflies have been recorded in the UK, eight of which were given Biodiversity Action Plan status and therefore are recognised as of priority for conservation by the government.

If you're interested in participating, please reach out through our website. In the coming months, we'll be collecting samples across the catchment area, focusing on locations where pollution concerns exist. Your involvement can make a real difference in safeguarding our rivers for future generations.