The project has been running through 2025 with open events for people to explore their local waterway, discover the wildlife and try some water testing. We even ran some evening sessions with detectors to look for bats. Our favourites were the Daubenton’s bats that emerged from under a bridge to feed from the surface of the river. We have now reached the next phase of the project when we are setting up community hubs to carry on the project in their local areas. All training in water analysis provided along with on-going support and equipment.
If you are part of a group carrying out water testing, you can find the recording sheet here. The recording can also be done by phone using the QR code (potentially easier than a paper form in wet weather). You can also find a copy of the current protocol here. The recording form and the protocol may be updated after our meeeting with Josh Hammond.
What are we looking for?
We have our own survey forms for the water testing, incorporating elements from other organisations. This can be done on paper or electronically. We are testing for ammonia and phosphate, two of the most widespread and damaging nutrients, along with turbidity, temperature and total dissolved solids.
Research has shown that connecting with nature is good for our physical and mental health. Over the course of the project we have used ID leaflets from the Field Studies Council, and apps to help us with wildlife/plant identification. These include Merlin, for bird song; iRecord, for biodiversity identification and recording; Pl@ntNet, for plant identification; and the Big River Watch from The Rivers Trust. Please note, there is no requisite to purchase or download anything. The apps are all free, this is just for information.
Project background
The project in Rother was set up through funding with a Making It Happen grant from Rother Voluntary Action. Strandliners is working with community groups and individuals for waterside walks and simple surveys in their local area. Being close to water has been shown to improve our wellbeing and connectedness to nature. We undertake simple water quality monitoring and observe wildlife, and the data collected builds a picture of river health across the Rother catchment.
Thank you to all those who took part in the pilot project in 2024.
The Rother Catchment
The Rother catchment drains almost 1,000 square km of land in East Sussex and Kent, the largest and longest river being the River Rother. The catchment has a unique collection of river systems and man-made canals and includes the network of ditches, streams and sewers of the Romney Marsh and the 28 mile Royal Military Canal.
The Rother rises near Rotherfield in Wealden district of East Sussex and flows for 35 miles through East Sussex and Kent to its mouth on Rye Bay on the English Channel. Along its course, it is joined by the Rivers Limden and Dudwell at Etchingham, the River Darwell to the north of Robertsbridge, and the Brede and Tillingham Rivers which join it at Rye before it discharges to the sea. For the final 14 miles the river bed is below the high tide level, and the Scots Float sluice is used to control water levels. The sluice prevents salt water entering the river system at high tides, and retains water in the river during the summer months to ensure the health of the surrounding marsh habitat. Below the sluice, the river is tidal for 3.7 miles. It is navigable from Bodiam to Rye
Harbour.
Romney Marsh, including Dungeness, is the largest coastal wetland habitat and is one of the most important wildlife sites in the world – protected at a Global, European and UK levels. The area is home to species found hardly anywhere else in the UK and it is also a crossroads for migrating birds. The Marsh has no boundaries but it incorporates one of the largest wild and stable vegetated shingle landscapes in the world supporting a rich and diverse wildlife and a wide and unique variety of uncommon plants, insects and spiders. It is designated a National Nature Reserve (NNR), Special Protection Area (SPA) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye are also designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
