WHAT WE DO
Understanding and protecting the River Foss
Through monitoring, practical action and community involvement, we are helping to build a clearer picture of the river and the wildlife it supports.
Building a Better Understanding of Our River
The River Foss is a living environment that changes throughout the seasons and in response to pressures from the surrounding landscape. Understanding those changes is an important part of protecting the river and planning for its future.
Our volunteers gather information about water quality, aquatic life and the wider biodiversity of the river corridor. By recording and sharing what we find, we can help identify concerns, celebrate improvements and encourage positive action.
Our Approach
Our work brings together regular monitoring, local knowledge and community participation to improve understanding of the River Foss and the challenges it faces.
Collect and record
Our volunteers carry out observations and surveys that help build a long-term picture of conditions throughout the River Foss and its surrounding habitats.
Understand and share
We bring information together and share what we learn with communities, partner organisations and others working to support the health of the river.
Encourage positive action
The evidence we collect can help raise awareness, identify areas of concern and encourage practical action to protect and improve the River Foss.
Explore Our Monitoring Work
Our monitoring activities focus on three closely connected areas, each helping us understand a different aspect of the river’s health.
Chemistry
Regular water-quality monitoring helps us understand the condition of the river and identify environmental pressures that may be affecting it.
Biology
Sampling aquatic invertebrates provides valuable information about river health and helps us assess changes and potential impacts over time.
Biodiversity
Recording birds, mammals, insects and plants helps us build a clearer picture of the rich wildlife found throughout the River Foss corridor.
From Evidence to Action
Monitoring is about more than collecting information. It helps us understand how the river is changing, draw attention to the pressures it faces and support conversations about its future.
By combining evidence with local knowledge and community involvement, we can help more people understand the River Foss and encourage practical action to protect it.
Help Us Care for the River Foss
Whether you take part in monitoring, join one of our activities or support the Society, you can help us understand and protect the river.