The funding we received got us started with the testing of the 2 rivers and pond at Easter Breich Wood. The funding allowed us to join the recording platform at Freshwater watch for a year and we were able to kit out all of the volunteers with testing materials. In addition we were able to expand the data collected to include pH, dissolved oxygen, and water temperature.
The information from our testing is freely available and can be used by the local River Almond Water Quality Improvement Group and the biodiversity officers at the local council are aware of this project and can refer to the data when relevant.
We have promoted the project at a community land week event and at a local community garden to raise awareness and will continue to test regularly to keep the data coming.
Action plan:
Timeline: We envisage starting Sunday 3rd September to allow for the summer holiday period, arranging of the online training with Freshwater Watch and arrival of the testing materials. We will test on a monthly basis for a year initially with a review towards the end of the year.
Budget: Equipment that would support extending the monitoring parameters on the rivers such as: water/air temperature thermometers, pH testing kit, iron testing strips, oxygen sensor and a water depth board. The group additionally has ideas to run community events by bringing in knowledgeable people/ nature experts to give guided talks to increase interest in both the project and the community woodland as a whole.
Impact: The project will contribute regularly to global records on the state of our rivers by recording standardised accessible information. It will raise awareness locally of the condition of our rivers and pond at an amenity woodland that has a direct role in community health and wellbeing. The water quality information will be of immediate use to anglers, swimmers, dog walkers and other users. It can inform action if conditions are found to be unfavourable and assist in local land management and planning. Data from this project would also be relevant to the charitable group of Easter Breich Woodland and would assist in their objectives of both increasing biodiversity and connecting more people with the woodland.
Location: Easter Breich Woodland and surrounds monitoring the River Almond and Breich Water rivers and pond. No access permits required.
