Want to help your local beck or river? Well now you can, because Riverfly training is back!

SCRT have been running courses with the Riverfly Partnership for over ten years and now you have an opportunity to join this fantastic citizen science programme. This free training will provide you with the knowledge and means to assess your local rivers health.

How? Well, riverflies or invertebrates are known as ‘the canary of our rivers’ because they are strong biological indicators to monitor water quality. They are relatively localised, long-lived and sensitive to pollution. Riverflies (Caddisflies, Stoneflies and Mayflies) live most of their lives as larvae on the bed of rivers before emerging as short-lived adult flies in the spring and summer.

This training is for those wanting to get a bit more up close and hands on. You can join the South Cumbrian hub, made up of lots of active volunteers, learning and sampling their local beck/river. But this is a national programme – there are hundreds of volunteers across the country! Learn more about the Riverfly Partnership here.

Sampling takes place between April and September and you will be asked to sample one location, once a month with a buddy. You will then record the results on the riverfly database, which is available for all and gives us a local and national picture of river health. You will be accessing a river/stream to carry out a kick sample, so you will need to feel physically capable of carrying out this activity and all monitors need be at least 18 years old.

The full training session will be on Saturday 26th April from 10:30 – 15:30 at Beetham Primary School, Stanley St, Beetham, Milnthorpe LA7 7AS. Once completed you will receive a certificate and the equipment to use, for as long as your sampling. Locations for sampling are discussed at the training event – so get your thinking caps on!

Come on, join the riverfly revolution! If you’re interested in the training, please let Rachael know by e-mailing rachael@scrt.co.uk

Wellies or waders will be required.