17/03/2026
Would you like to become a citizen scientist? No experience is necessary. The Tweed Foundation are expanding their Guardians of the Tweed (https://rivertweed.org.uk/tweed-foundation/guardians-of-the-tweed) riverfly monitoring programme.
Riverflies are an indicator species, which we can use to quantify how clean our rivers are.
To become a Guardian of the Tweed riverfly monitor you will be given free training, support, and survey equipment. This is done in partnership with Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust (https://www.buglife.org.uk/projects/guardians-of-our-rivers-next-steps/). You can then either join a pre-established monitoring site, or set-up a new site. We cover the River Tweed and Eye Water catchments (https://rivertweed.org.uk/about-the-tweed-catchment/).
Sites are surveyed once a month from April to October. During each survey riverflies are collected from the riverbed and categorised on the riverbank. Data are used by the Tweed Foundation and inputted into a national database managed by the Riverfly Partnership (https://www.riverflies.org/).
Becoming a Guardian of the Tweed is a great way to get out in nature and learn more about your local river. It is also an opportunity to connect with likeminded people and is a way to report water quality issues to SEPA.
The first step to becoming a certified riverfly monitor is to sign up for one of the free online theory classes, run by Buglife. Dates, times, and registration links are as follows:
Thursday 12 March, 10am-1pm, https://www.trybooking.com/uk/GAAN
Wednesday 18 March, 6:30-9:30pm, https://www.trybooking.com/uk/GABG
Wednesday 1 April, 10am-1pm, https://www.trybooking.com/uk/GABI
Thursday 30 April, 6:30-9:30pm, https://www.trybooking.com/uk/GABN
Details on practical training sessions are to follow. Additional theory dates will be released throughout the spring and summer.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact our volunteer coordinator, Erica at [email protected] or 01896 848 271
Guardians of the Tweed is made possible thanks to funding from the Tweed Foundation and Fallago Environment Fund.
Erica Chapman
Tweed Foundation