Guardians of our Rivers: Next Steps

River Eden, Pitlessie ©️ Kerry Dodd

Guardians of Our Rivers (GooR): Next Steps will build on the momentum of Buglife’s previous work to protect freshwater habitats and aquatic invertebrates by developing a self-sustaining national network of River Guardians involved in monitoring and protecting the future health of Scotland’s watercourses.

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Quick Facts:

  • Name of Project:  Guardians of our Rivers: Next Steps
  • Project Launch Date: October 2024 – September 2026
  • Location of Project: River catchments across Scotland
  • Species benefiting from Project: Riverflies (Mayflies, Caddisflies and Stoneflies) and freshwater invertebrates more broadly.
  • Project funded by: National Lottery Heritage Fund, NatureScot, Mackies of Scotland and the Riverwoods Partnership.

What will the project do? 

Riverfly monitoring provides vital, up-to-date information about how freshwater invertebrates are faring and the quality of riverine environments. This project will provide extended training and additional resources to enhance the confidence and skills of volunteers empowering community groups to become more actively involved in safeguarding the quality of local rivers and streams.

Guardians of our Rivers: Next Steps will connect people and communities from a diverse range of backgrounds with their local rivers and other freshwater habitats and the invertebrates that call these places home. The project will specifically target underrepresented urban communities and facilitate groups to make connections enabling the development of catchment-scale monitoring of water quality. 

New regional trainers will be supported to take on responsibility for training new groups ensuring the continuation of the riverfly monitoring initiative in Scotland beyond the funded period.

This project will continue to feed into the The Riverfly Partnership – a network of organisations around the UK, working together to protect our rivers and riverflies.

Riverfly ID Tray © Buglife

How can you get involved? 

If you or your community would like to receive training to start monitoring riverflies in your local watercourse, please contact Conservation Officer, Kerry Dodd at Kerry.Dodd@buglife.org.uk.

Similarly if your existing group of River Guardians are interested in receiving extended training or you are an individual who might be interested in becoming a regional trainer please do get in touch.

Riverfly Surveying at Boring Mill Cottage, Milton Burn © Rebecca Lewis
Colin Beattie MSP - Rivers Nature Champion @uartlach
Colin Beattie MSP – Rivers Nature Champion

Rivers Nature Champion:

Colin Beattie MSP

  • Member for: Midlothian North and Musselburgh
  • Region: Lothian
  • Party: Scottish National Party

Find out more about Scottish Nature Champions


Guardians of our Rivers: Next Steps is funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund, NatureScot, Mackies of Scotland and the Riverwoods Partnership.