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That’s a wrap on the @wildfishcons SmartRivers spring season for me.

A busy few months taking invertebrate samples across Aberdeenshire (Ugie), Cumbria (Derwent, Eden, Greta), Dumfries and Galloway (Tarras Water), and Wiltshire (Avon).

Time to give the sampling net a rest and await the data to see what the bugs say about the health of the rivers.

Environmental DNA: a powerful tool for citizen science projects. 💙

eDNA is robust science made accessible to citizen scientists like our SmartRivers volunteers, but don’t just take our word for it.

Here’s the SmartRivers team and volunteer David to tell you more. 👀

Want to get involved? Contact us at smartrivers@wildfish.org to find out more.

The trout were being tricksy with one particular leviathan showing me the middle fin-ger numerous times.

But I’m pretty sure that’s an Atlantic salmon. There’s probably a rule about it not counting unless it’s been out to sea. Pooh to that 🎣

The trout were being tricksy with one particular leviathan showing me the middle fin-ger numerous times.

But I’m pretty sure that’s an Atlantic salmon. There’s probably a rule about it not counting unless it’s been out to sea. Pooh to that 🎣

The trout were being tricksy with one particular leviathan showing me the middle fin-ger numerous times.

But I’m pretty sure that’s an Atlantic salmon. There’s probably a rule about it not counting unless it’s been out to sea. Pooh to that 🎣

Meet Sam, our senior freshwater ecologist. Today’s mission: carrying out benchmark surveys of freshwater invertebrates at Tarras Valley Nature Reserve. ✨

Surveying freshwater invertebrates is an effective method to understand the pressures that a river is facing, from pollution to over-abstraction. These little guys are brilliant indicators of river health.

Tarras Valley Nature Reserve is at the start of an exciting freshwater conservation project, and today’s surveys help us understand what invertebrates are currently inhabiting the river. This monitoring creates a biodiversity baseline. Over the course of the project, repeat surveys will monitor how the ecology of the river changes in response to the project. 🪲

Sam also carried out environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling, exploring how modern techniques like this can complement traditional invertebrate monitoring methods such as kick‑sampling.

#Ecologist #FreshwaterEcologist #WildlifeConservation

Unlocking information about river health. 🔓

With each generation, we come to accept a little less biodiversity, fewer wild spaces and a more degraded environment as “normal”.

Environmental DNA or eDNA is a powerful data collection tool capable of delivering a more complete picture of what’s living in our rivers than ever before.

Here’s our freshwater ecologist @dr.samgreen and Dr Lewis Campbell from @tracebiomonitoring to tell you what eDNA makes possible.

We’ll provide more information about our eDNA journey here on social media and in our newsletter. Sign up for the latest updates direct to your inbox.

🔗 Link in bio.

Something new is coming to SmartRivers!

Later this year, volunteers will have the option to add Environmental DNA to their data collection pathways.

Great! But, what is it?

Here’s our freshwater ecologist @dr.samgreen and Lewis Campbell from @tracebiomonitoring to tell you more.

We’ll provide the latest updates about our eDNA journey here on social media and in our newsletter. Stay tuned to find out more!

We had a fantastic time at the Guideline event this weekend with the team from @johnnorrisofpenrith.

From a stretch of the River Eden, we collected a kick-sweep sample to reveal the hidden wonders beneath the surface, and to show why up‑to‑date, professional‑grade data is essential for protecting wild fish and their habitats. 👀

SmartRivers is our citizen science project powering wild fish recovery through robust evidence collection, deeper understanding and community engagement.

In 2025, our volunteers monitored 245 river sites across the UK and since 2019, volunteers have recorded 6,299 training hours. With science on our side, we can hold polluters accountable and reverse the decline of wild fish populations. 🐟

Know someone who’d love to join the SmartRivers community - tag them below!

Busy few days sampling the River Avon for @wildfishcons and sneaking in a bit of chalk stream fishing on the side thanks to the good people at Salisbury and District Angling Club.

All sorts of riverside wildlife. Wild brown trout, an accidental PB grayling, European eel, barn owls, cuckoo, a mildly disgruntled riparian landowner, and otters playing in the reeds. It’s a tough life.

Busy few days sampling the River Avon for @wildfishcons and sneaking in a bit of chalk stream fishing on the side thanks to the good people at Salisbury and District Angling Club.

All sorts of riverside wildlife. Wild brown trout, an accidental PB grayling, European eel, barn owls, cuckoo, a mildly disgruntled riparian landowner, and otters playing in the reeds. It’s a tough life.

Busy few days sampling the River Avon for @wildfishcons and sneaking in a bit of chalk stream fishing on the side thanks to the good people at Salisbury and District Angling Club.

All sorts of riverside wildlife. Wild brown trout, an accidental PB grayling, European eel, barn owls, cuckoo, a mildly disgruntled riparian landowner, and otters playing in the reeds. It’s a tough life.

Busy few days sampling the River Avon for @wildfishcons and sneaking in a bit of chalk stream fishing on the side thanks to the good people at Salisbury and District Angling Club.

All sorts of riverside wildlife. Wild brown trout, an accidental PB grayling, European eel, barn owls, cuckoo, a mildly disgruntled riparian landowner, and otters playing in the reeds. It’s a tough life.

Busy few days sampling the River Avon for @wildfishcons and sneaking in a bit of chalk stream fishing on the side thanks to the good people at Salisbury and District Angling Club.

All sorts of riverside wildlife. Wild brown trout, an accidental PB grayling, European eel, barn owls, cuckoo, a mildly disgruntled riparian landowner, and otters playing in the reeds. It’s a tough life.

Busy few days sampling the River Avon for @wildfishcons and sneaking in a bit of chalk stream fishing on the side thanks to the good people at Salisbury and District Angling Club.

All sorts of riverside wildlife. Wild brown trout, an accidental PB grayling, European eel, barn owls, cuckoo, a mildly disgruntled riparian landowner, and otters playing in the reeds. It’s a tough life.

Busy few days sampling the River Avon for @wildfishcons and sneaking in a bit of chalk stream fishing on the side thanks to the good people at Salisbury and District Angling Club.

All sorts of riverside wildlife. Wild brown trout, an accidental PB grayling, European eel, barn owls, cuckoo, a mildly disgruntled riparian landowner, and otters playing in the reeds. It’s a tough life.

Busy few days sampling the River Avon for @wildfishcons and sneaking in a bit of chalk stream fishing on the side thanks to the good people at Salisbury and District Angling Club.

All sorts of riverside wildlife. Wild brown trout, an accidental PB grayling, European eel, barn owls, cuckoo, a mildly disgruntled riparian landowner, and otters playing in the reeds. It’s a tough life.

Busy few days sampling the River Avon for @wildfishcons and sneaking in a bit of chalk stream fishing on the side thanks to the good people at Salisbury and District Angling Club.

All sorts of riverside wildlife. Wild brown trout, an accidental PB grayling, European eel, barn owls, cuckoo, a mildly disgruntled riparian landowner, and otters playing in the reeds. It’s a tough life.

A couple of excellently unsuccessful days on the Eden and Annan spooking big browns in bright conditions.

Time to return to the sacred texts to remind myself how to fish while waiting for the Grannom 🎣

A couple of excellently unsuccessful days on the Eden and Annan spooking big browns in bright conditions.

Time to return to the sacred texts to remind myself how to fish while waiting for the Grannom 🎣

A couple of excellently unsuccessful days on the Eden and Annan spooking big browns in bright conditions.

Time to return to the sacred texts to remind myself how to fish while waiting for the Grannom 🎣

A couple of excellently unsuccessful days on the Eden and Annan spooking big browns in bright conditions.

Time to return to the sacred texts to remind myself how to fish while waiting for the Grannom 🎣

Breaking the blank on the River Ugie

Breaking the blank on the River Ugie

Breaking the blank on the River Ugie

Breaking the blank on the River Ugie

The real fish were not playing ball on a visit to Loch Brandy in the Cairngorms. A few caddis and stonefly coming off despite the cold water temps and strong winds. Maybe next time!

A pair of black-throated divers followed me around the loch… if they were struggling to catch as well I don’t feel too bad.

Mountain hares, black grouse, possibly a pair of whooper swans, a shrike of some kind, and more. Cracking spot!

The real fish were not playing ball on a visit to Loch Brandy in the Cairngorms. A few caddis and stonefly coming off despite the cold water temps and strong winds. Maybe next time!

A pair of black-throated divers followed me around the loch… if they were struggling to catch as well I don’t feel too bad.

Mountain hares, black grouse, possibly a pair of whooper swans, a shrike of some kind, and more. Cracking spot!

The real fish were not playing ball on a visit to Loch Brandy in the Cairngorms. A few caddis and stonefly coming off despite the cold water temps and strong winds. Maybe next time!

A pair of black-throated divers followed me around the loch… if they were struggling to catch as well I don’t feel too bad.

Mountain hares, black grouse, possibly a pair of whooper swans, a shrike of some kind, and more. Cracking spot!

The real fish were not playing ball on a visit to Loch Brandy in the Cairngorms. A few caddis and stonefly coming off despite the cold water temps and strong winds. Maybe next time!

A pair of black-throated divers followed me around the loch… if they were struggling to catch as well I don’t feel too bad.

Mountain hares, black grouse, possibly a pair of whooper swans, a shrike of some kind, and more. Cracking spot!

The real fish were not playing ball on a visit to Loch Brandy in the Cairngorms. A few caddis and stonefly coming off despite the cold water temps and strong winds. Maybe next time!

A pair of black-throated divers followed me around the loch… if they were struggling to catch as well I don’t feel too bad.

Mountain hares, black grouse, possibly a pair of whooper swans, a shrike of some kind, and more. Cracking spot!

The real fish were not playing ball on a visit to Loch Brandy in the Cairngorms. A few caddis and stonefly coming off despite the cold water temps and strong winds. Maybe next time!

A pair of black-throated divers followed me around the loch… if they were struggling to catch as well I don’t feel too bad.

Mountain hares, black grouse, possibly a pair of whooper swans, a shrike of some kind, and more. Cracking spot!

Soggy morning scouting sampling sites at @tarras_valley_reserve

Soggy morning scouting sampling sites at @tarras_valley_reserve

Soggy morning scouting sampling sites at @tarras_valley_reserve

Soggy morning scouting sampling sites at @tarras_valley_reserve

Soggy morning scouting sampling sites at @tarras_valley_reserve

Soggy morning scouting sampling sites at @tarras_valley_reserve