Rugby Borough Council has partnered with the University of Birmingham to train and equip volunteers to monitor the health of local watercourses, including the Avon, Swift and Sow Brook. With national figures showing around 75% of UK rivers are in poor ecological health and only 14% in good condition, the new project aims to play its part in tackling this challenge by putting environmental science into the hands of the community.
‘Rugby River Champions’ will test the ecological condition of local waterways, measure pollutants, and help identify invasive species. In doing so, they will build a detailed picture of river health across the borough while gaining practical skills and hands-on experience in environmental monitoring.
The project is funded by Rugby Borough Council following support from the council’s Climate Emergency Working Group. It offers residents a chance to get actively involved in protecting their local environment, strengthening both community pride and environmental stewardship.
Data collected by volunteers will support the council’s engagement with local stakeholders, such as Severn Trent and the Environment Agency. This will enable action to improve Rugby watercourses, as well helping to shape the council’s own environmental work.
To support the scheme, the University of Birmingham is recruiting a dedicated Volunteer Coordinator, who will lead training sessions, support volunteers, and work with existing community groups interested in taking part in citizen science.
Cllr Alison Livesey, Chair of Rugby Borough Council’s Climate Emergency Working Group, said: “Rugby borough is full of people who care deeply about their local environment, and this project taps straight into that passion.
“Our volunteers already make an incredible contribution to our green spaces, and Rugby River Champions will take that a step further by giving people the skills, equipment and confidence to become environmental scientists in their own communities.
“This is about curiosity, collaboration and real-world impact. With the support of the University of Birmingham, volunteers will be collecting meaningful data that helps us and our partners better understand our rivers and take action to protect them for the future.”
Cllr Sam Edwards, Deputy Chair of Rugby Borough Council’s Climate Emergency Working Group, said: “This project gives residents a real chance to get involved in protecting the rivers and streams that run through our borough.
“By training volunteers to monitor river health, we can build a clearer picture of the challenges our waterways face and support action to improve them. The more residents who take part, the greater the difference we can make.”
Dr James White, Birmingham River Champions founder and a Research Fellow in Water Sciences at the University of Birmingham, said: “We’re delighted to be working alongside Rugby Council to launch the Rugby River Champions initiative, to help address critical environmental issues such as pollution and biodiversity losses.”
“Citizen science is hugely important as it allows us to upskill, train and equip volunteers to collect valuable data that enables us to monitor the health of local waterways and help inform effective long-term solutions.”
The Rugby River Champions scheme is due to launch this Spring. Individuals, companies and community groups interested in taking part can contact the scheme by emailing rugbynetzero@rugby.gov.uk.
Photo caption: (L to R) Cllr Alison Livesey, Chair of the Rugby Borough Council Climate Emergency Working Group, and Dr James White, Birmingham River Champions founder and a Research Fellow in Water Sciences at the University of Birmingham, join Working Group member Cllr Isabelle McKenzie and River Champion volunteers Frank Green, Fern Hodges, and Cllr Tony Freeman.