Plea to help fund volunteer citizen scientists for rivers
AN environmental charity has one week to raise £12,500 to support its citizen science volunteers and education projects. The Westcountry Rivers Trust (WRT), which restores and protects the region’s freshwater environments, is taking part in The Big Give Christmas Challenge for the first time to secure funds for its Westcountry Citizen Science Investigations (CSI) scheme, and its work with schools and colleges.
Simon Browning, senior monitoring officer at the WRT, said: “We now have 200 active volunteers assisting Westcountry CSI, created in 2016, who do an amazing job monitoring water quality and biodiversity.
“But with more than 850 waterbodies across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset, we need more people to take part and more funds to support them with monitoring kits.” The data
CSI volunteers collect, from water tests, wildlife, habitat, and pollution assessments, collates river health evidence to help influence policy and water environment decisions.
Westcountry CSI citizen scientist, Kate, said: “Taking part has given me the opportunity to understand the critical role our watercourses play in connectivity for nature; being part of a group who are keen to make a small difference fights my eco-anxiety too.”
Donations to the festive fundraiser will be matched by pledgers during a week-long campaign.
Education officer, Shona McCombie, said: “To access the full £6,250 we have in the pledged match fund, we need to raise £6,250 online. The online donation lasts from November 30 - December 7. More at www.wrt. org.uk/project/the-big-give-christmas-challenge