Have you ever wondered how healthy your local river is?
Invertebrate sampling is a great way for you to find out. Using invertebrates collected from our rivers, known as riverflies, we can monitor water quality and highlight any pollution concerns.
Guardians of the Tweed survey sites once a month from April to October throughout the Tweed and Eye catchments using standardised kick sampling methodology. Check out our story maps for more details on what is involved, FAQs, and previous results (this is best viewed on a larger screen).
Free training and equipment are provided for individuals or groups to become citizen scientists and carry out these surveys.
The Tweed Foundation coordinates this work as a Riverfly Partnership Riverfly Monitoring Initiative (RMI) hub through Buglife.
Riverfly monitoring is open to anyone with any level of knowledge; anglers, ecologists, or newcomers to the natural world are welcome to participate.
If you are interested in joining a group or want to get your own group set-up please get in touch with our volunteer coordinator, Erica, at echapman@tweedfoundation.org.uk
Upcoming training
The first step to becoming a certified riverfly monitor is to sign up for one of the free online theory classes, run by Buglife. Dates, times, and registration links are as follows:
Wednesday 18 March, 6:30-9:30pm
Thursday 30 April, 6:30-9:30pm
Wednesday 24 June, 6:30-9:30pm
The next step is to do one practical training session. Dates are currently penciled in for Wednesday 29 April and Saturday 23 May, 10am-1pm. Confirmation, additional details, and further dates will follow in due course.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact our volunteer coordinator, Erica at echapman@tweedfoundation.org.uk or 01896 848 271
Preserved Macroinvertebrate Samples
Using the same field method of kick sampling, Tweed Foundation biologists also collect and preserve macroinvertebrate samples, which includes riverflies, as part of our environmental consultancy services.
During the winter months these samples are processed. This involves sifting through water samples to remove all the animals. Animals are then identified to family level. This is a time consuming but interesting processes, and we would love your help. If you have an interest in seeing what lives in our rivers and have some time to spare let us know. No previous experience is needed, just decent eyesight (glasses allowed) and good fine motor skills. You can help for as little or as much as you would like. If you are interested send our volunteer coordinator an email at echapman@tweedfoundation.org.uk