The Big River Watch is back!
The Big River Watch is back!
Earlier this year – between the 25th of April and the 1st of May 2025 – 3,909 people in the UK and Ireland participated in the Big River Watch and submitted 2,261 surveys! The Big River Watch is a citizen science event which is held twice a year – and this year there was extra excitement, because the Rivers Trust, who run it, teamed up with Earthwatch’s Great UK WaterBlitz.
The observations people made give a compelling story about the state of our rivers – and our connection to them. And there's another Big River Watch from the 19th to the 25th September 2025!
Never mind "messing about on the river" (remember the song?), you can enjoy the river and do some serious citizen science to help our rivers!
How to take part....
Download the free Big River Watch app (see Apple or Android) before you go to the river.
Spend 15 minutes watching the river, and answer the questions in the survey about what you see, e.g. wildlife and plants, and signs of pollution. You can do this at a favourite spot on the river or go somewhere new. And if you’re not sure what you see, the in-app pollution and wildlife guides will help you!
Then press submit and upload your Big River Watch survey! And the river specialists will analyse the results of everyone’s findings.
Share your photos on social media with #BigRiverWatch
The app and survey are open year round so that you can keep recording information about your river!
You could also take part in the Great UK WaterBlitz and do your Big River Watch in the same place. This helps pair the two data sets, which means there’s an even greater insight into our river health. if you've signed up for your kit in advance, you can also test the water and monitor nitrate and phosphate levels between 19-21st September
Finally, please don’t forget to sign the petition, Making Space for Water. Find out about that here.
The results from the Big River Watch earlier this year.... who was seen the most?
Ducks were recorded in 1,100 surveys
Fish were in 636 recordings
Riverflies came next – they are a key indicator of good water quality
Heron (429)
Swan (419)
The kingfisher – wow, 148 surveyors saw a beautiful kingfisher.
Beaver – can you imagine seeing a beaver? 11 people did!
Pollution
54% of the survey recorded at least one form of pollution, with silt, livestock-related pollution, algal blooms and sewage pollution. Road runoff and mine water were also noted.
50% of surveys reported pollution and litter, and although 70% of those taking part felt their river stretch looked healthy, many of the largest threats to rivers can’t be seen by the naked eye. You can’t detect chemical pollution without lab testing, for instance.
The other problem is that people are more likely to do their surveys on a dry day, when signs of pollution may well be less evident and harder to spot.
There are more results from the survey here – including how rivers make people feel. People who thought their river was healthy most often described themselves as feeling happy, peaceful or calm. An unhealthy looking river made people more likely to say they felt sad, concerned or frustrated.
Looking after our rivers improves the wellbeing of everyone.
Since its launch in 2023, there have been 4 seasonal campaigns, when 17,689 people have explored and supported their local rivers and submitted 10,027 surveys. There’s another river watch in September – find out more here.
The stunning photo at the top is by Jonny Gios - amazing photo, Jonny! Thank you!
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