📢 Calling all Riverfly monitors! With so much of the UK currently experiencing drought, here's a reminder about what to do if the water level has drastically dropped at your Riverfly site this summer. www.riverflies.org/summer-surve...

The Riverfly Partnership@riverflies.bsky.social · 2mo ago

🛑 If river water levels fall too low to get invertebrates into the net, don't attempt a kick sample. However, please still log a survey on the database, showing you weren't able to sample. ☀️ For full guidance on summertime Riverfly surveys, please see riverflies.org/summer-survey-guidance.

☀️ Trying to keep kids occupied this summer? Why not treat them to a trip down to the river to look at some creepy-crawlies? If that leaves them wanting more riverfly fun, we've got colouring-in sheets, word searches and more that can be downloaded for free at riverflies.org/childrensactivities 🖍️

Interested in water quality & citizen science? Then, you'll like our newly updated Bloomin' Algae app: www.ceh.ac.uk/our-science/... You can help us understand where and when blooms occur, and alert the community. #freshwater #CitizenScience #algae #UKCEH_AquaEco @ukceh.bsky.social 🧪🦠🌊🚣‍♀️👀🧪🦠🌊🚣‍♀️👀🧪

👀 What are you seeing on your river? Dead fish, pollution, unusual flows or wildlife behaving oddly? In this weather, your observations matter and can make a real difference. Read more 👇 www.thetaca.com/news/what-ar... 📞 EA Incident Hotline: 0800 80 70 60 (24/7)

What are you seeing? — TACA

One of the things I've come to realise over the past few years is just how much time people spend beside rivers. Anglers, obviously, when we can! But also dog walkers, runners, photographers, birdwat...

thetaca.com

The Big Butterfly Count 2026 is here and butterflies need our help! 🦋 From now until 9 August, spend just 15 minutes outside counting the butterflies you see and help us take nature's pulse. The best part? Anyone, anywhere can take part. Count yourself in 👉 https://butrfli.es/3SVFepj

🔎 We have all sorts of useful resources for Riverfly monitors on our website! 💧 If you've ever wanted to understand the 'RMI Eight' in more depth, such as why these are the groups that get counted, and what the presence and absence of each group might indicate, then check out this handy explainer.

🚨 A reminder for all Riverfly monitors on what to do if you get a trigger level breach! ⌚ Remember, for it to count as a "confirmed trigger level breach", you need have done a second sample within 48 hours. Be sure to select 'Second sample' when inputting it to the database.

Greetings river health warriors... and heartfelt thanks to all involved in Riverfly Monitoring! ✨ It is a pleasure to announce that, following ongoing success, the Environment Agency has committed to a further 3 years of funding to support the Riverfly Partnership. 💙 www.fba.org.uk/fba-voice/th...

The Riverfly Partnership’s year of impact: Extending community support for freshwaters with the Environment Agency — Freshwater Biological Association

The Riverfly Partnership, hosted by the FBA, continues to empower communities to protect and restore rivers across the UK. Over the past year (April 2025 – March 2026), the initiative, with support fr...

fba.org.uk

Our June newsletter is out now! If you'd like to read it, or sign up to our mailing list so future issues come directly to your inbox, go to riverflies.org/newsletters.

East Berwickshire now has a great team of citizen scientists ready to monitor river health throughout the region. @riverflies.bsky.social If you would like to join a riverfly monitoring group in Eyemouth, Reston, or elsewhere in the Eye & Tweed catchments let me know

Did some riverfly sampling training in Eyemouth today with @riverflies.bsky.social Good fun and looking forward to setting up a new regular monitoring site near my home.

🛑 If river water levels fall too low to get invertebrates into the net, don't attempt a kick sample. However, please still log a survey on the database, showing you weren't able to sample. ☀️ For full guidance on summertime Riverfly surveys, please see riverflies.org/summer-survey-guidance.

These photos were shared with the Environment Agency, who confirmed this was the first demon shrimp recorded on the Holy Brook 🔍 Info on non-native shrimps can be found at www.riverflies.org/keydocuments/#infoformonitors Always remember: check, clean, dry! 🫧 📸: John Sharpe @riverkennet.bsky.social

Looking forward to hearing this talk about stoneflies and their 'paradiddle'! The FBA's Annual Scientific Meeting is next week at Edinburgh Napier and we'll be there - there are still tickets if you'd like to join us 💧

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Have you ever wondered how human sound might impact freshwater species whilst in their submerged state? Jess Lister, @edinburghnapier.bsky.social, will be introducing a keynote on this very subject at our Annual Scientific Meeting. Interested in finding out more? 👇 www.fba.org.uk/annual-scien...

This Biological Recording Company (@biologicalrecording.co.uk) talk last week, about riverflies in Ireland, was fascinating. Definitely worth a watch if you're interested in learning more about the diversity of riverflies and their habitats. 💧 biologicalrecording.co.uk/2026/05/28/u...

Underexplored Freshwater Habitats in Ireland: Case Studies Using Riverflies

Ireland’s freshwater landscape encompasses over 12,000 lakes and extensive river networks, primarily shaped by Pleistocene glaciation. Standard aquatic surveys consistently target riffle zone…

biologicalrecording.co.uk

Calling all freshwater science fans! Have you registered for our Annual Scientific Meeting? The ASM is in Edinburgh on Thursday 11 June. We would love you to join us! The ASM has an inspiring line-up including a keynote from Bernd Hänfling. Find out more & register! www.fba.org.uk/annual-scien...

Save Our Swale Exhibition in Catterick Library in collaboration with CRACCL until 22nd June.. What Does The River Swale Mean To Us All? #richmondsnippets

This olive, found by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust volunteers, is so pale because it's recently moulted. Riverfly larvae undergo a number of moults as they grow. Each stage between moults is called an 'instar'. At the start of an instar, before the exoskeleton hardens, the larva is pale and soft. 🌟

Nice to see BBC News shining a light on Buglife's Riverfly monitoring in Scotland! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Peebles river detectives part of network tackling pollution

Hundreds of volunteers survey Scotland's watercourses and report any issues of concern quickly.

bbc.co.uk

One measure of the #RiverVer health is the abundance of invertebrates living in the river. Every month a dedicated team of 20 volunteers survey nearly 20 spots along the Ver to check that all is well. @chilternstreams.bsky.social @riverflies.bsky.social

“We’re creating a mosaic of habitats – jewels linked by long watercourses. It’s a nature-based recovery; we’re just prompting it.” If you, too, feel that positive stories are in short supply, this tale about people coming together might just brighten your day. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

The English community that brought its river back from the brink: ‘If we can get it right here, we can do it everywhere’

For 150 years, the Mease had been altered by human hands, which destroyed habitats. But in 2013, a restoration project began – and now its wetlands are abuzz with wildlife

theguardian.com

The RPHQ team will be in attendance - particularly looking forward to the riverfly-related talks!

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Calling all freshwater science fans! We're delighted to share with you the agenda for our ASM. This year we're hosted by @edinburghnapier.bsky.social in beautiful Edinburgh on Thursday 11 June & we'd love you to join us! Find out more & register for the ASM 2026 today! www.fba.org.uk/annual-scien...

Hundreds of our Riverfly monitors were originally trained by Stuart Crofts. He's long been a fantastic champion of the Riverfly Partnership, and this is a lovely interview with him by the FBA.

Freshwater Biological Association@freshwaterbio.bsky.social · 3mo ago

It has been a pleasure to work alongside Stuart Crofts over the years. A fisherman, entomologist & campaigner Stuart is also the driving force behind the Adult #Caddisfly Occurrence Scheme. Now in its final year we decided it was a most excellent time to find out more: www.fba.org.uk/fba-voice/in...

I’m now a qualified river fly monitor! Will be making regular checks on a local stream to identify and count the little critters that live there in order to better understand and counter pollution. Run by @riverflies.bsky.social best day I’ve had in yonks 😍

Our host organisation, @freshwaterbio.bsky.social, has its Annual Scientific Meeting on Thursday 11 June at Edinburgh Napier University. This year’s theme will cover a range of new approaches being used for freshwater science. Buy your tickets at www.fba.org.uk/shop/p/annual-scientific-meeting-2026

FBA Annual Scientific Meeting on 11 June 2026, Edinburgh Napier University — Freshwater Biological Association

We are delighted to announce that the 2026 ASM, in partnership with Edinburgh Napier University, will be shining a light on ‘Emerging approaches for freshwater science’.

fba.org.uk

It was fantastic to see the Chilterns Chalk Stream hub demonstrating Riverfly monitoring on Countryfile at the weekend! You can catch the episode on iPlayer here: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

Countryfile - The Chalk of the Chilterns

Matt Baker and Vick Hope explore the chalk landscapes of the Chilterns, where rare grasslands, seasonal streams and specialised wildlife all depend on the fragile ground beneath their feet.

bbc.co.uk

Love the slow-motion videos of dancing mayflies in this.

The Guardian@theguardian.com · 3mo ago

Older than the dinosaurs: scientists finally unlock secret of the mayfly’s dance

We invite you to take a cool freshwater plunge this Monitoring Monday... as we rejoice in rivers & the Realm of the Riverfly! Interested in becoming a guardian of your local #river as a citizen scientist #riverfly monitor? Find out more on the Riverfly Partnership website: www.riverflies.org

Fantastic start to the @riverflies.bsky.social sampling season at Hall Beck on the river Kent. Lots of lively larvae of #stoneflies, #mayflies and #caddisflies, including our first #Ephemera at this site. #citizenscience #freshwater

Our latest newsletter is out now! Read it and sign up for future newsletters here: www.riverflies.org/newsletters