Volunteer to help survey species and habitats in the Upper Irthing

Eden Rivers Trust is one of the partners in a new project in the Upper Irthing that will reverse the decline of nature while supporting sustainable agriculture and land use.

Covering approximately 9,500 hectares across the Cumbria/Northumberland border up to Scotland, the project will establish a new model for integrated land management focusing on Peatlands, Rivers, Invasives, Species Recovery, and Meadows (PRISM). Led by Forestry England, the project brings together partners, including ourselves, Natural England, the Ministry of Defence, Northumberland Wildlife Trust, and four private landowners.

As part of this project, we’re looking at how we can improve the environment in this area to support the reintroduction of endangered water voles. We’re undertaking habitat surveys and have started a programme to control American Mink, a ferocious, non-native predator that poses the main threat to the survival of native water voles.

We are now calling on volunteers to join the cause! There are several ways you can get involved.

1. Riparian surveys – walking the land and beside rivers to record the features found there,
2. Riverfly monitoring – riverflies are invertebrates that spend most of their life cycle in a river, stream, pond or lake.  Found all year round, they are a good indicator of water quality … and fascinating creatures to get the chance to see up close too! We’re looking for volunteers who could spare some time each month to monitor a particular stretch of river.
3. Mink raft monitoring (non-lethal) – help us monitor the rafts sited along our rivers to understand where and how many invasive, non-native American mink live there. This is essential so that we can formulate a plan to eradicate them so that native water voles can potentially be reintroduced in the future.

No previous experience is necessary as full training and equipment will be provided.