Freshwater Pearl Mussel Project Spring Surveying

As part of our Freshwater Pearl Mussel project we’ve been conducting monthly surveys along the Afon Eden. Long-term monitoring like this is a great way to pick up on any new pressures and to measure the effects of our habitat restoration work. Past works have included planting native trees, reprofiling banks and adding gravels to support spawning fish.

What do we monitor?

Invertebrates
Twice a year we conduct kick-sampling, which involves disturbing the river bed and collecting any invertebrates we find. The more pollution-sensitive species we discover, the healthier the river, making them brilliant indicators of overall river health. We also record the terrestrial insects we find using a method called sweep netting, which involves gently beating the riparian vegetation and recording the findings.

Chemical testing

On a monthly basis we take chemical water testing readings to get a clear picture of how the river is faring throughout the year.

Tree planting

We also keep a close eye on our tree planting, returning to survey the sites and track how well the new trees are establishing themselves. Watching those early plantings take root and grow is one of the most rewarding parts of the work.

Together, all of this monitoring builds a fuller picture of the Eden's health — and points us toward where we can make the biggest difference.

This work is funded by Local Nature Partnerships in partnership with Eryri National Park.