ARRT river guardianship

Three of our recent talks have included references to the problems of the River Rother and it was great to hear David Elliott, from the National Trust, reinforcing the value of the two river projects ERA is involved with. This time last year we had set up our own river monitoring programme, using the Freshwater Watch system, now we are part of the whole catchment river monitoring programme recently set up by the Arun and Rother Rivers Trust (ARRT). Last year we ran our own Himalayan Balsam pulling programme, this year we are pleased to work alongside the new South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) programme for addressing Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) which covers Himalayan Balsam and more. (In both of these important areas of work ERA got there first!)

Parallel to the above I am also organising some Himalayan Balsam pulling through the Trotton with Chithurst Parish Council’s Sustainability Action Team. I will share all work party dates as it is always a case of ‘the more the merrier’.

These are volunteering opportunities that let you do something for the good of our local environment. I know people have many commitments already and may have limitations on what they can actually offer, but do give them some consideration.

By becoming an ARRT River Guardian, you commit to doing your best to spend about half an hour per month, visiting your own chosen spot along the river (or one of its tributaries), recording some simple environmental observations (is there any litter? are there any dragonflies? etc) and then carry out some chemical testing on a sample of the water. The results can either be entered via an App while you are there or can be recorded on paper and entered via a website when you get home.