Riversearch Volunteering Update

Since August last year, RiverSearch volunteers have been taking samples in the River Beult to monitor for Nitrate, Phosphate and Turbidity as well as observing how the river is changing at each monthly visit. This has been a really valuable addition to work happening in the area with the Upper Beult Farmer Cluster. Farmers, volunteers and groups are working together to create a thriving landscape and help ensure action is taken to improve water quality in this rare clay river. Below Riversearch Alison Woodhouse reports on what she has been doing as part of this volunteering role.

River Beult, Kent - Location – Water Lane, Hunton

I started as a River Search volunteer in August 2023, and have taken samples from the River Beult once a month since then. I live in Orpington so the site I have chosen is fairly near the confluence of the Rivers Beult and Medway near Yalding, enabling me to get to the site in about ¾ hour by car. Although this is not strictly the Upper Beult it should help to give an overall picture of the health of the river.

My sampling location is on a footbridge over the river, accessed via public footpaths across fields, approximately ¼ mile from the nearest road. I take the sample with a bucket on a long rope and then measure the turbidity, nitrate and phosphate using the kits provided by the Trust.

When I first visited the site in August the river level was fairly low and flowing very slowly. There were water lilies present. The surrounding fields are meadow land, but I have not seen cattle or sheep grazing there. There are no overhanging trees or buildings nearby. There are horses in fields further away. The river level has risen considerably with a much faster flow rate over the winter.  The turbidity of the water has also  increased through the autumn and winter with the heavy constant rain, but there has been no marked increase in nitrate or phosphate. However, a pattern may emerge over time as more data are collected.

Alison Woodhouse