You may recall reading in our June newsletter about 'citizen scientists' volunteering for the Westcountry Rivers Trust to monitor water quality in our region's rivers.

Several months later, the national press is on the case; with particular reference to the River Creedy. This article highights the much reduced monitoring by the Environment Agency. Given the government's stated aim to reduce regulation still further, it is hard to imagine an improvement in this situation any time soon. Whilst the work of volunteers cannot fully replace the work of a government agency, it is nevertheless extremely valuable and no doubt the more volunteers come forward, the more effective it becomes.

If you want to find out more about acting as a citizen scientist, follow the link on this page to the Westcountry Rivers Trust.

John Craythorne