Guardians of our Rivers

Invertebrates are an essential part of the ecology of our freshwater systems. The UK has over 3,800 different species of invertebrate that spend all, or part of their lives in rivers, ponds and other freshwater habitats. These include mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies (collectively known as riverflies) as well as dragonflies, water beetles and pond skaters. 

Freshwater living invertebrates play a vital role in maintaining clean water- they help to break down and filter organic matter and provide a food source for fish, birds and mammals. Their presence is the standard indicator of the health of the habitat they live in. However, many of our freshwater invertebrates are declining in the face of pollution, invasive species, abstraction and development. 

What will the project do?

The Guardians of Our Rivers project will recruit people who would like to get involved in monitoring the health of their local river, and support them in their learning journey to becoming trained Citizen Scientists. This project feeds into the The Riverfly Partnership – a network of organisations around the UK, working together to protect our rivers and riverflies.  

Free, certified training will be delivered by Buglife’s qualified Riverfly Partnership trainer to volunteers across Scotland. 

We will provide training and support on how to:

• monitor and survey rivers for invertebrates;
• identify target groups of invertebrates;
• spot early warning signs of habitats in crisis, e.g., from pollution or climate change;
• record their findings to an opensource database hosted by the Freshwater Biological Association and other recording schemes;
• and share stories and lessons learnt between communities.

Once trained groups are established, they will have access to ongoing support and information to help them become confident and secure with the methods and identification of the invertebrates found in their rivers.

Since the project launched in 2022, we have trained 40 groups across Scotland. Our work is continuing in 2024 and 2025, by offering new extended training for volunteers. This is an opportunity for volunteers to develop their identification skills and gain more information to detect and measure pollution and habitat degradation, helping us to begin building a network of qualified riverfly trainers across Scotland.  

The project will also work with community groups and schools to spread awareness on riverflies and what people can do to help them and their local rivers.  

How can you get involved?

Unhealthy rivers are not attractive places to spend time in, on, or by – nor do they foster a sense of belonging with people and communities. Through this project, communities will be empowered to become ‘River Guardians’ for their local rivers and deliver change through greater understanding of what constitutes a healthy river. 

We are seeking volunteers to become Citizen Scientists, helping to monitor their local rivers and upload the results onto the Riverfly Partnership national database.

You can also get involved through a series of illustrated project talks, community led events and story sharing days between communities.

For more information on how to get involved in our Guardians of our River project, please contact Kerry Dodd (Conservation Officer – Scotland) at [email protected].