Volunteers taking part in Riverfly monitoring training.

Our riverfly training was delivered through the Riverfly Partnerships one day riverfly monitoring initiatve workshops. The Riverfly Partnership have trained and accredited two of the Ribble Rivers Trust’s staff allowing them, in turn to train others.

These workshops taught participants the techniques required to carry out kick sampling surveys as well as helping them to develop the identification skills required to record their findings. The days were an interesting mix of presentations, demonstrations and active involvement by participants at the riverside. As well as sampling equipment participants were given a pack featuring information and comprehensive guides to take away with them, and the Ribble Trust staff are always on hand to give follow up help and advice!

Over the four-year span of Ribble Life Together we ran eight Riverfly monitoring workshops.

Ribble Rivers Trust staff assisting volunteers with kick sampling in a shallow patch of river.

Following the training all participants are being encouraged to adopt their own, unique site to sample. Sampling takes around an hour and is carried out monthly between April and October. This data is then sent to us in a simple to complete spreadsheet which helps us to build up a long-term dataset allowing us to monitor water quality and give us a baseline from which to monitor for improvements.

To find out more or to request the chance to attend a workshop please email admin@ribbletrust.com