Western Sussex Rivers Trust (WSRT)

👀 From kingfishers to coots, riverflies to dippers and dragonflies, last year Big River Watchers were treated to some brilliant sightings of some of our most iconic river species across the UK and Ireland. What will you see this year? Don't forget to download the free #BigRiverWatch app and make sure you've got 15 minutes to enjoy surveying your local river between the 6th-12th September. Sign up to take part today: https://lnkd.in/ek2_zFEg You can also explore all the data from the previous two Big River Watch events in our interactive data dashboard: https://lnkd.in/enUDpe-v #TheRiversTrust #loveyourriver #togetherforrivers #lovenature #stateofourrivers #riverhealth #nature #citizenscience #wildlife #restorenature #NationalWaterQualityMonth #worldriversday

In need of some Postive River News?🤩 Including our partnership plans to create a Mammal Shelf under the A272! 🦦👏

🎉 Big River Watch starts today! The countdown is over. It’s finally time to get outside, connect with your local river, and record what you see with the free Big River Watch app! Our rivers are in trouble, but there’s something that you can do to support the work being done to restore them. This week, join the movement fighting for our waterways and help us build a big picture of river health across the UK and Ireland by completing a short Big River Watch survey of your local river. From wildlife to litter, every observation counts! You've got one week to complete a survey and send in your results. We can't wait to see what you record this year. Don't forget to share your river watching with us - use #BigRiverWatch and tag us @theriverstrust.

🤳 Reporting problems with your river when you take part in the #BigRiverWatch this September will help to identify pollution hotspots across the UK and Ireland. There's no doubt about it, as we fight for cleaner waterways we need more information about the health of our rivers. Spend just 15 minutes surveying your local river between 6-12th September using the free Big River Watch app, and join the only UK and Ireland-wide citizen science survey of river health. Find out more and sign up to take part today: https://lnkd.in/ek2_zFEg #TheRiversTrust #loveyourriver #togetherforrivers #lovenature #stateofourrivers #riverhealth #nature #citizenscience #ducks #wildlife #restorenature #NationalWaterQualityMonth #worldriversday

💊 Antidepressants and other pharmaceuticals found polluting rivers English National Parks. ⚠ A new study from University of York and The Rivers Trust released today found that many waterways in our national parks - biodiversity hotspots with protected ecosystems - are facing threats from high levels of drugs including antidepressants and painkillers. Read the coverage in The i paper: https://lnkd.in/eec_VYTu And by University of York: https://lnkd.in/enjtGyJa Dr Rob Collins, Director of Policy and Science at the Rivers Trust, said, ‘Whilst we need to see greater investment into traditional wastewater treatment, more natural treatment technologies such as wetlands can also play an important role, particularly in these more rural environments where there is the room to implement such nature based solutions. It is also important that the maintenance and management of septic tanks is improved, and that new Government rules on this are enforced. “We, the public, can also play our part; few people are aware of medicine take back schemes whereby any unopened, unused and out-of-date medicines, can be taken to the local pharmacy, rather than flushed down the toilet and into the sewer system”. Read the full paper, Pharmaceutical Pollution of the English National Parks, published in Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC). Co-authors include Rivers Trust staff Rob Collins, Josh Jones, Jessie Leach and Daniel Turner: https://lnkd.in/ew7VCjwT

We NEED wetlands... Ok, so other needs are important too. BUT wetlands are essential for life on earth. 🌍 40% of the worlds plants and animals depend on wetlands. Whether it's a bog, lake, reedbed or even a tiny pond, all are part of an intricate ecosystem and home to a huge diversity of wildlife. And did you know, wetlands have supported human life and health for thousands of years? Not only do they provide livelihoods for 1 billion people, they provide all of us with food, water and blue spaces for our well-being. 💙 Wetlands are also the most effective carbon sinks on the planet, storing more than ALL forest's combined and protecting us against the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events. So, together let's restore and protect these incredible habitats.

⚠️ Chemicals: The silent killer in our waterways. A recent investigation by Watershed and The Guardian has uncovered a shocking reality: nearly 500 chemicals, some banned, are present in all 171 river and groundwater catchments tested in England in 2024. 🐟 Over half of these chemicals are harmful to aquatic life, including a banned carcinogenic "forever chemical" and all three banned neonicotinoid pesticides. Entering our waterways from road and farm runoff, sewage works, and even our own washing, chemicals pose a substantial threat to our delicate aquatic ecosystems. Dr Rob Collins, Director of Policy and Science at The Rivers Trust, emphasises the severity of the situation: "As this study confirms, the extent of chemical pollution of our waterways is staggering, impacting upon aquatic life and raising implications for human health. It is imperative that we see a robust chemicals strategy from the government as a matter of urgency, where tackling chemical pollution at source is prioritised". Learn more about the investigation in The Guardian's article 👇 https://lnkd.in/e65DTjwf

🚨🥳 It’s just 1 month until the next Rivers Trust #BigRiverWatch! Have you heard about our quick and easy way citizen science initiative to help rivers in the UK and Ireland? Between 6th-12th of Sep, we need you to: 1️⃣ Spend 15 minutes watching a river (it's so quick that you could complete a survey on your lunch break or add it to your commute) 2️⃣ Record what you see with the free Big River Watch survey app Last September over 6,000 people took part in the survey. Search ‘Big River Watch’ on your app store to download the free app today, and help us make this autumn Big River Watch even bigger and better. From wildlife to pollution, the data you gather helps build a better understanding of the health of our rivers, and supports the fight for their restoration. Find out more and sign up: https://lnkd.in/ek2_zFEg #citizenscience #river #rivers #togetherforrivers #stateofourrivers #nature #environment #nationalwaterqualitymonth

Keep your eyes peeled for wonderful wildlife when out and about this summer ! ☀️👀 What’s your favourite sighting so far this year? Photo by Richard & Will Crombie📷

✨ 8 top tips to spot a water vole ✨ With their numbers dropping by more than 90% since the 1970s as a result of habitat loss and invasive species attacks, the water vole is no longer a familiar sight. Follow our top tips to see if you can get lucky and spot this shy and endangered wetland mammal 👇