£11,723 National Lottery boost for CPRE Herefordshire’s River Wye citizen science
The funding will provide equipment needed by volunteers across the Wye catchment who test the river each week for phosphate, nitrate, nitrite, electrical conductivity and turbidity, uploading their results to the WyeViz dashboard (freely available online here). The data has heavily influenced both Herefordshire Council’s Nutrient Management plan and the Wye Catchment Partnership Plan. Both plans will address the actions needed to bring the Wye Catchment back into a favourable statement.The River Wye has faced sustained pressure from agricultural run-off and other pollution sources in recent years. Reliable, consistent water quality data is central to holding polluters and planners to account, and to tracking whether interventions are working.
Andrew McRobb, who leads the project at CPRE Herefordshire, says:
“We’re thrilled to receive this funding from The National Lottery Community Fund. It means we can continue providing the vital evidence needed to rescue the Wye.”
The equipment will be in use by volunteers immediately.
CPRE, have been successful in obtaining funding for another season of Hedgerow Heroes, starting in October with hedge laying courses then hedge planting from November 2026 until April 2027. Click here to find out more and to book the hedge laying courses
Volunteers are needed to help with planting – more details here.
