Rambling About Rivers

Author: The Rivers Trust

Rivers are one of the most precious ecosystems on the planet. When healthy, they're a climate crisis ally, a sanctuary for biodiversity, a place of connection and play, and a vital source of drinking water. Despite this, they are under threat. Many of our rivers are barely functioning, but we're stepping in to save them. Tune into Rambling About Rivers to find out more about the threats facing rivers, the work of The Rivers Trust Movement, and what you can do to help. Find out more: www.theriverstrust.org or follow us @theriverstrust
Be a guest on this podcast

Language: en

Genres: Nature, Science

Contact email: Get it

Feed URL: Get it

iTunes ID: Get it

Get all podcast data

Listen Now...

2.7: Data - gaps in the evidence, and the power of citizen science
Episode 7
Wednesday, 14 January, 2026

Rivers are essential to life, but our understanding of river health and issues is fragmented. Why are there such huge gaps in freshwater monitoring, what opportunities or issues are being missed as a result, and how can citizen science change the game?This week we join Michelle Walker, Technical Director and citizen science expert at The Rivers Trust, to survey her local tributary for riverflies - vital indicators of river health. To learn more about how volunteer-gathered data played an essential role in cleaning up over 5 million wet wipes from the Thames' foreshore, we chat to Felicity Rhodes, Thames Programme Manager at Thames 21.Find out more and get involved: Explore the Riverfly Monitoring Dataset on the CaSTCo website.Read about the removal works at 'Wet Wipe Island'⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find your local Rivers Trust⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit ⁠⁠⁠www.theriverstrust.org⁠⁠⁠ for more Follow us on social media @theriverstrust. Hosted and edited by Emma Brisdion and Matthew Woodard, mixed by Mark Skinner.