Volunteers Complete Smart River Hub Training

We’re pleased to share that our amazing volunteers have now completed their Day 2 training with the Smart Rivers Hubs programme! After two full sessions of learning and hands-on practice, they are now fully trained and ready to begin independent invertebrate sampling this autumn.

Over the course of the training, volunteers developed their skills in identifying freshwater invertebrates using the Smart Rivers methodology—an important tool for understanding the ecological health of our rivers. These tiny creatures are key bioindicators, and learning how to spot and record them accurately helps us track changes in water quality over time.

As part of the project setup, we’ve also been working alongside the WildFish team to collect our benchmark data, ensuring we get off to a strong and scientifically robust start.

So far, we’ve covered sites across the Maelog, Ogwen, Padarn, and Braint catchments, laying the groundwork for a network of citizen scientists monitoring the health of these rivers into the future.

A big thank you to all our volunteers for their dedication, enthusiasm, and curiosity. We’re looking forward to seeing your data roll in this autumn!