Bristol Avon Rivers Trust

Saving Water for River Wildlife - a talk and discussion
2023-07-18 19:30 - 21:00 UTC | Old School Rooms, Chew Magna, BS40 8SH
BART are hosting a talk and discussion about the future of our water supply, what the issues mean for river wildlife and what we can all do to help. Come and find out how the pressures of climate change and increased population are predicted to impact our water resources, how the inevitable low river levels affects various freshwater species and what action can be taken to strengthen our water resilience. Discussion about the best steps to take will be very much encouraged!

All welcome!

RiverBlitz Event - Midsomer Norton
2023-07-09 10:00 - 14:00 UTC | Midsomer Norton Park, Midsomer Norton Park, BA3 2UH
Come and join the Bristol Avon Rivers Trust team at our Bristol Avon RiverBlitz event for the Cam and Wellow Brooks in Midsomer Norton!
The Bristol Avon RiverBlitz (July 7th -14th) is a citizen science event where as many volunteers as possible sign up and collect water quality data. You can come to one of four in-person events, including this one at Midsomer Norton, and pick up a kit. Once you have collected your samples in a stream or river of your choice in the Bristol Avon catchment, you will upload your data using BART’s online tool.
At the in-person events, you will be able to chat to the team and we can guide you through the sampling process.
We will be in Midsomer Norton Town Park with our stall and our water testing kits. We would love to see you there!
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED BUT SOME KITS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS. Come early not to be disappointed!

RiverBlitz Event - River Biss, Trowbridge
2023-07-09 10:00 - 14:00 UTC | Trowbridge Park Pond, Trowbridge Park, Trowbridge, BA14 7EH
Come and join the Bristol Avon Rivers Trust team at our Bristol Avon RiverBlitz event on the River Biss in Trowbridge Park Pond!
The Bristol Avon RiverBlitz (July 7th -14th) is a citizen science event where as many volunteers as possible sign up and collect water quality data. You can come to one of four in-person events, including this one at Trowbridge Park Pond, and pick up a kit. Once you have collected your samples in a stream or river of your choice in the Bristol Avon catchment, you will upload your data using BART’s online tool.
At the in-person events, you will be able to chat to the team and we can guide you through the sampling process.
We will be at Trowbridge Park Pond with our stall and our water testing kits. We would love to see you there!
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED BUT SOME KITS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS. Come early not to be disappointed!

RiverBlitz Event - River Chew, Keynsham
2023-07-08 10:00 - 14:00 UTC | Keynsham Memorial Park, Keynsham Memorial Park, Keynsham, BS31 1HL
Come and join the Bristol Avon Rivers Trust team at our Bristol Avon RiverBlitz event on the River Chew in Keynsham Memorial Park!
The Bristol Avon RiverBlitz (July 7th -14th) is a citizen science event where as many volunteers as possible sign up and collect water quality data. You can come to one of four in-person events, including this one ain Keynsham, and pick up your kit. Once you have collected your samples in a stream or river of your choice in the Bristol Avon catchment, you will upload your data using BART’s online tool.
At the in-person events, you will be able to chat to the team and we can guide you through the sampling process.
We will be in Keynsham Memorial Park with our stall and our water testing kits. We would love to see you there!
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED BUT SOME KITS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS. Come early not to be disappointed!

RiverBlitz Event - Land Yeo, Watercress Farm
2023-07-08 10:00 - 14:00 UTC | Watercress Farm, Wraxall, Near Tyntsfield, BS48 1NE
Come and join the Bristol Avon Rivers Trust team and Avon Wildlife Trust at our Bristol Avon RiverBlitz event for the Land Yeo at Watercress Farm near Tyntsfield.
The Bristol Avon RiverBlitz (July 7th -14th) is a citizen science event where as many volunteers as possible sign up and collect water quality data. You can come to one of four in-person events, including this one at Watercress Farm, and pick up your kit. Once you have collected your samples in a stream or river of your choice in the Bristol Avon catchment, you will upload your data using BART’s online tool.
At the in-person events, you will be able to chat to the team and we can guide you through the sampling process.
We will be at Watercress Farm with our stall and our water testing kits. We would love to see you there!
Once you have turned into Watercress Farm, keep following the track until you see RiverBlitz signs.
The site is lovely, you might see the resident free-ranging cows and pigs and you can have a look at the awesome, large scale river restoration work going on there.
Guided walk of Watercress Farm 11am: Avon Wildlife Trust will be hosting a guided walk around the farm to show visitors features of the river and also the awesome river restoration work going on there. The river is being re-routed to take a more natural meandering route which will give a huge boost to biodiversity. See the project in it’s early stages.

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED BUT SOME KITS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS. Come early not to be disappointed!

RiverBlitz - Be a citizen scientist!
2023-07-07 - 2023-07-14 | Bristol Avon catchment
The Bristol Avon RiverBlitz (July 7th -14th) is a citizen science event where as many volunteers as possible sign up and collect water quality data. Volunteers collect phosphate and nitrate samples from a river or stream of their choice in the Bristol Avon catchment. BART then use the data to assess the health of our rivers and to inform our work to improve rivers for people and wildlife.
Anyone can join in! You can pick up a kit at one of our in-person events.
**Limited number of kits available – comer early to get one**
Once you have your kit, you need to sample a stream or river between July 7th – 14th and upload your data onto BART’s online tool.
The more people who get involved, the more data we collect!
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED BUT SOME KITS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS. Come early not to be disappointed!

Yellow Fish Event - Eastville
2023-03-18 10:00 - 13:00 UTC | Ashdene Avenue, Eastville, Ashdene Avenue, Eastville, Bristol, BS5 6QH
Come and join BART to help raise awareness of the threats facing the Bristol Frome river and its wildlife by painting yellow fish on pavements!
Did you know that surface road drains lead directly into your local watercourse? Anything other than rain that goes down the drain such as litter, car oils, detergents and wastewater can harm river health and its wildlife. Our fish, invertebrates and other river life need your help! BART are looking for volunteers in Bristol to help raise awareness that only rain should go down the drain.
BART are running a Yellow Fish campaign to raise awareness of the threats to the Bristol Frome river and its wildlife. This event involves putting up posters to spread the message and painting yellow fish next to surface road drains. Keep an eye out for yellow fish near you and spread the message of ‘Only Rain Down the Drain!’
Your help would be very much appreciated! Help your river and its wildlife and sign up via eventbrite:

Thank you to the EA for funding these events and support from Bristol City council.

Yellow Fish Event - St Werburghs
2023-02-16 10:00 - 13:00 UTC | Gatton Road, St Werburgh’s, Gatton Road Saint Werburgh's, Bristol, BS2 9TF, United Kingdom

Stoke Brook River Restoration week 2
2022-10-24 - 2022-10-28 | Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre, BS32 9BS
Join BART to improve in-river habitat for Stoke Brook within the Bristol Frome catchment. We are looking for volunteers to join us.

Meeting location 9:30am:Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre, Fiddlers Wood Ln, Bradley Stoke, Bristol, BS32 9BS

Finishing about 3:30pm.

This task involves lifting tree branches and large woody debris, whilst wading through the river to create brushwood berm features.
Please bring:

Wellies – waders preferred as the river will be deep in places.
Appropriate clothing for the weather, e.g coat
Food and water for the day
Gloves
Hand sanitiser

Materials and tools will be provided.
Please note children aged 16 and under are not covered by our insurance and this task may not be suitable/ safe for them to attend.
For any questions please email Rozy: rozy@bristolavonriverstrust.org

What is a brushwood berm?
As shown above, the structures are constructed using natural materials; by coppicing trees on the riverbanks and securing limbs into the riverbed at the correct angle into the flow. The space behind the tree limb extending into the channel and the riverbank is packed with brushwood and secured in place. These structures help to re-meander the profile of the river and provide a diverse range of habitat. Over time, the structures will accumulate sediment and eventually vegetate to become part of the riverbank.

Sign up through the Eventbrite website:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bristol-frome-habitat-improvement-tickets-414590640767

River Dipping - Norton St Philip
2022-10-22 10:00 - 14:00 UTC | Norton St Philip, Scouts Hut
Join Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) at your local river for a river dipping session. This involves sampling invertebrates and building rafts from natural materials! Become a river detective where you can sample the river and understand more about the water quality along your local river!
Suitable for children age 5+
If you would like to get involved, please contact molly@bristolavonriverstrust.org

Stoke Brook River Restoration
2022-10-03 - 2022-10-07 | Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre, BS32 9BS
Join BART to improve in-river habitat for Stoke Brook within the Bristol Frome catchment. We are looking for volunteers to join us.

Meeting location 9:30am:Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre, Fiddlers Wood Ln, Bradley Stoke, Bristol, BS32 9BS

Finish about 3:30pm.

This task involves lifting tree branches and large woody debris, whilst wading through the river to create brushwood berm features.
Please bring:

Wellies – waders preferred as the river will be deep in places.
Appropriate clothing for the weather, e.g coat
Food and water for the day
Gloves
Hand sanitiser

Materials and tools will be provided.
Please note children aged 16 and under are not covered by our insurance and this task may not be suitable/ safe for them to attend.
For any questions please email Rozy: rozy@bristolavonriverstrust.org

What is a brushwood berm?
As shown above, the structures are constructed using natural materials; by coppicing trees on the riverbanks and securing limbs into the riverbed at the correct angle into the flow. The space behind the tree limb extending into the channel and the riverbank is packed with brushwood and secured in place. These structures help to re-meander the profile of the river and provide a diverse range of habitat. Over time, the structures will accumulate sediment and eventually vegetate to become part of the riverbank.

Sign up through the Eventbrite website:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bristol-frome-habitat-improvement-tickets-414590640767

River Dipping - Midsomer Norton
2022-10-01 10:00 - 14:00 UTC | Wellow Brook – Midsomer Norton
Join Bristol Avon Rivers Trust at your local river for a river dipping session. This involves sampling invertebrates and building rafts from natural materials! Become a river detective where you can sample the river and understand more about the water quality along your local river!
Suitable for children age 5+
If you would like to get involved please contact: molly@bristolavonriverstrust.org

Bristol Frome River Clean: Eastville Park
2022-09-25 09:30 - 14:00 (Europe/London) | Fishponds Road, Eastville Park, Fishponds Road, Bristol, BS5 6XA
Join BART on our river clean event along the Bristol Frome to celebrate World Rivers Day 2022. The Sunday river clean will be held in Eastville park in Bristol. We are looking for keen volunteers in and around Bristol to join us to help clean the Bristol Frome.
For more information and booking click here.

Bristol Frome River Clean: Yate
2022-09-24 09:30 - 14:00 (Europe/London) | Crowthers Avenue, Yate, Crowthers Avenue, Yate, BS37
Join BART on our river clean event along the Bristol Frome to celebrate World Rivers Day 2022. The Saturday river clean will be held in Yate, and the second event on the Sunday will be held at Eastville park in Bristol. We are looking for keen volunteers in and around Bristol to join us to help clean the Bristol Frome.
For more information and booking click here.

WaterDay, Pensford
2022-07-17 10:00 - 14:00 UTC | Wild Things Farm, Pensford, Stanton Lane, Pensford, United Kingdom
Join us for WaterDay in Pensford!

Come along to take a guided walk, to take a look at some river minibeasts and to be a citizen scientist as part of our RiverBlitz project.
Guided walks: Walk around the wetland we are creating and hear about BART’s work in the Chew valley. 10:15am, 11:15am, 1:15am*.
River minibeasts: Have a go at kick sampling to catch river invertebrates and have a go at identifying them. Learn about what the minibeasts tell us about river health. 10:30 – 2:00*
RiverBlitz: It is our annual RiverBlitz week where citizen scientists collect valuable data about water quality in our local streams and rivers. Take your sample and find out about the project. All day*

*we may cancel the last walk and possibly pack up early if it gets too hot!

Bristol Avon RiverBlitz 2022
2022-07-11 - 2022-07-18
The Bristol Avon RiverBlitz (formerly WaterBlitz) returns this July, and it’s bigger than ever!
BART is encouraging as many citizen scientists as possible to get out to their local watercourse and sample it for water quality to help monitor the health of our rivers and streams.
Please sign up here before July 11th to request your water testing kits. Use the kits to sample your local stream or river and send us in your results.
We are pleased to be hosting four local events on rivers around the catchment where you can collect your kits in person or just come on down on the day. Members of the BART team demonstrating how to take the samples and giving information on what your results mean. Please find details of each event below.
Thank you for taking part and helping us work together for rivers!

Local Waterblitz events on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th July from 10am to 2pm.

Cam & Wellow Brooks: Saturday 16th July – Midsomer Norton Town Park, Gullock Tyning, Midsomer Norton, BA3 2UH
The River Biss: Saturday 16th July – Fore Street, Trowbridge Town Centre, BA14 8ER
The River Chew: Sunday 17th July – Wild Things Farm, Pensford Lane, Stanton Drew, Bristol, BS39 4DX (What 3 Words: ///amber.loudness.rivers)
Congresbury Yeo: Sunday 17th July – Millennium Green, Bristol Road, Congresbury, Bristol, BS49 5AG
Check out the RiverBlitz data explorer to find out how the health of your local river or stream has changed during the past 5 years of RiverBlitz events.

Saving the Chew: a talk about improving the health of the River Chew
2022-06-30 19:30 - 20:30 UTC | Keynsham Baptist Church, High Street, Keynsham, BS31 1DS, United Kingdom
BART’s River Chew Community Engagement Officer, Amy Wade, will be giving a talk about improving the health of the River Chew.
The talk will include information about who BART are, environmental issues that the River Chew faces, some of the work that BART are doing to improve the health of the river, and what local people can do to help.
Questions and discussion following the talk will be welcome.
Please email Amy if you are coming so we can plan for numbers: amy@bristolavonriverstrust.org

Riverfly Monitor Training - Upper Avon
2022-06-30 09:45 - 12:45 UTC | Venue TBC
Are you interested in your local river or stream and would you like to become a Monthly Volunteer Riverfly Monitor to help to survey and protect it?
BART are running free riverfly monitoring training courses this Summer to expand our network within the catchment and help to protect our rivers into the future!
We run riverfly training as part of the Angler’s Riverfly Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) which is spearheaded by the Riverfly Partnership. More info can be found on their website here. Riverfly are a fantastic indicator of the health of our rivers and streams and our riverfly monitors keep eyes and ears on our rivers and can be the first to spot pollution events as well as collecting long term, regular data on the state of our rivers. Our training courses consist of an online theory element followed by a practical session at the river.
Please contact jess@bristolavonriverstrust.org to find out more or to sign up to the training session.

Riverfly Monitor Training - Corsham
2022-06-24 09:45 - 12:45 UTC | Corsham, Corsham, Wiltshire

Riverfly Monitor Training - River Chew
2022-06-22 09:45 - 12:45 UTC | Pensford, Pensford, Somerset

Riverfly Monitor Training - Little Avon
2022-06-16 09:45 - 12:45 UTC | Charfield, South Gloucestershire

Yellow Fish Events: Yate
2022-06-11 09:30 - 15:30 UTC | Yate, Moorland Rd, Yate, BS37 4BT, United Kingdom
Did you know that surface drains at the sides of roads lead directly to your local watercourse? This means that anything poured down the surface drain such as litter, car oils or shampoo, weedkillers or mop bucket wastewater can harm river wildlife. Fish, invertebrates and other river life need our help.
BART are running an exciting Yellow Fish Campaign to raise awareness and encourage local communities to help improve water quality in the Bristol Frome. We are holding a series of Yellowfish events with local schools and local community groups.
We will be spraying yellow fish stencils onto the side of storm drains using non-toxic washable paint and putting up posters and handing out leaflets to local businesses in order to educate people on the fact that storm drains at the side of the road link directly to the nearest river or stream.
Event details are as follows:

9:30am – 10:30 Meet at Car Park on Moorland Rd, Yate, Bristol BS37 4BT
11:15-12:15 Meet outside Tesco – Wellington Rd, Yate, Bristol BS37 5UY
1:30-2:30 247 Sundridge Park, Yate, Bristol BS37 4HB

Please book a free ticket to one of our events here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/yellow-fish-yate-tickets-329485178037
For any questions on the event, please email Rozy@bristolavonriverstrust.org
Thank you to Coop Local Causes for funding these events and thank you for support from Yate Town Council and South Gloucestershire Council.

Land Yeo RiverBlitz
2022-05-21 10:00 - 14:00 UTC | Moorend Spout Nature Reserve, Nailsea, Somerset, BS48 2NN, United Kingdom
Citizen Scientists Assemble!
Join Bristol Avon Rivers Trust and Avon Wildlife Trust at Moorend Spout Nature Reserve on Saturday 21st May to help monitor the health of our rivers and streams.
We will be handing out free, easy to use water testing kits and providing volunteers with the skills and tools to take samples from across the North Somerset Levels and Moors. We would love you to pick up a kit (or request delivery) and head out to your favourite spot to take your sample and make some observations on the health of the environment.
So gather your family and friends and help protect and enhance the precious waterways that we all depend on.
Register for the event here

River Clean: Pigeonhouse Stream
2021-08-20 10:00 - 13:30, 2021-08-06 10:00 - 13:30 UTC | Pigeonhouse Stream, Hartcliffe
Join other volunteers to #treasureyourriver this summer and help BART and Sustainable Hive collect 90 tonnes of litter from our rivers.

Treasure Your River is preventing river litter across the UK. The rivers at the heart of our cities flow to the sea, and take with them all the littARRR that is swept, dropped and drained into it. Did you know 80% of the litter in the sea flows out from river systems?
We’re looking for shipmates, volunteers, and people in Bristol and around the Avon who treasure their river to get involved. We’re aiming to remove 95 tonnes of litter from our rivers and prevent a further 90 tonnes from entering them in the first place. ARRR you ready to climb aboard and treasure a river near you?
Head here to register
Please dress appropriately (waterproofs, sun screen etc), bring water and hand sanitiser and adhere to COVID rules. Wellies would be helpful too although we can provide waders for those who really want to get stuck in! Gloves, litter pickers, bin bags and bag rings will also be provided.
Meeting information
Meet the BART team at 10am on the corner of Whitchurch Lane and Maynard Road, BS13 7TB.

River Clean: Brislington Brook
2021-07-16 10:00 - 13:30 UTC | Brislington Brook
Join other volunteers to #treasureyourriver this summer and help BART and Sustainable Hive collect 90 tonnes of litter from our rivers.

Treasure Your River is preventing river litter across the UK. The rivers at the heart of our cities flow to the sea, and take with them all the littARRR that is swept, dropped and drained into it. Did you know 80% of the litter in the sea flows out from river systems?
We’re looking for shipmates, volunteers, and people in Bristol and around the Avon who treasure their river to get involved. We’re aiming to remove 95 tonnes of litter from our rivers and prevent a further 90 tonnes from entering them in the first place. ARRR you ready to climb aboard and treasure a river near you?
Head here to register
Please dress appropriately (waterproofs, sun screen etc), bring water and hand sanitiser and adhere to COVID rules. Wellies would be helpful too although we can provide waders for those who really want to get stuck in! Gloves, litter pickers, bin bags and bag rings will also be provided.
Meeting information
Meet the BART team at 10am on the corner of Sturminster Close and Sturminster Road, BS14 8EH.

Frome river dip – all welcome
2021-07-11 11:00 - 14:00 UTC | Rodden Meadow, Frome

Bristol Avon WaterBlitz 2021
2021-07-09 - 2021-07-12
The Bristol Avon WaterBlitz returns this July, and it’s bigger than ever! BART is encouraging as many citizen scientists as possible to get out to their local watercourse and sample it for water quality to help monitor the health of our rivers and streams.
Please sign up here and request the number of kits you require to sample the site or sites you have in mind. We are pleased to be hosting two local events on the River Biss and Bristol Frome! These events give you the opportunity to collect your requested kit in person, with members of the BART team demonstrating how to take the samples and giving information on what your results mean. Please find details of each event below.
Thank you for taking part and helping us work together for rivers!
#BAWaterBlitz
Local Waterblitz events on Saturday 10th July from 10am to 2pm.
Bristol Frome: Oldbury Court Estate, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 2JH. This event has been made possible by an award from Postcode Local Trust, a grant-giving charity funded entirely by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
River Biss: Biss Meadows Country Park, Trowbridge, BA14 7EH. This event is being run in partnership with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust who have supported the event through their ABBA (A Better Biss Approach) project – an exciting 5-year project of practical action, innovative community and business engagement and high-level strategic planning across the River Biss and its tributaries.
New for 2021: The Bristol Avon WaterBlitz Explorer. Check out the data explorer to find out how the health of your local river or stream has changed during the past 5 years of WaterBlitz events.

Land Yeo WaterBlitz
2021-05-07 - 2021-05-10 | Moorend Spout Nature Reserve, Nailsea, Somerset, BS48 2NN, United Kingdom
Help BART and Avon Wildlife Trust gain a snapshot of water quality in the Land Yeo catchment. The citizen science event is our first in the catchment and needs river guardians to collect samples from their local watercourse to help monitor the health of our rivers and streams.*
The Land Yeo rises on Dundry Hill near Barrow Gurney Reservoirs and flows through various villages to Clevedon where it exits into the Bristol Channel. The target catchment also takes in the Middle Yeo and the network of ditches and rhynes where we would like to collect data on water quality.
Register here to receive a free water testing kit which will be sent to your registered address. You can collect your testing kit on Sunday 9th May from Moorend Spout Nature Reserve, Nailsea. BART will be here from 10am – 2pm where they will demonstrate how to take your water sample and provide further information on the project. If you would like to collect your kit(s) in person please register through the registration page and enter “Moorend Spout, Nailsea, BS48 2NN” in the address field. BART will follow up with an email on how to find us.
*Please stick to government guidelines when collecting your samples. The current guidelines state that “outdoor gatherings of either 6 people (the Rule of 6) or 2 households are allowed.”
The map below gives an overview of the target area. Your samples can be take from any of the watercourses within the wider catchment (provided landowner permission has been granted if required) as this will help us gain a snapshot of the catchment. To find out where there are gaps in water quality data please see our WaterBlitz explorer platform.

Volunteer Tree Planting
2020-11-21 09:30 - 13:00 UTC | Hen Lane NFM scheme, Regil near Winford, Somerset, United Kingdom
Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) are seeking volunteers to assist with planting trees near Winford. Over the past several months, BART has developed a tree planting strategy that will benefit rivers, streams and wildlife by planting the right trees in the right place. The trees planted for this particular scheme will complement a natural flood management scheme which will help intercept the flow of surface water during rainfall events as well as creating a wonderful wildlife corridor along the valley bottom. Tree planting forms part of BART’s wider project work within the Chew Valley which aims to improve the River Chew and its tributaries for the benefit of people and nature.
If you fancy rolling up your sleeves and getting involved with tree planting, please join BART at 09:30 on Saturday 21st November near Regil, Winford, for a socially distanced tree planting day where you can hear more about BART’s work throughout the Chew Valley and wider Bristol Avon. For further details please get in touch with BART’s Senior Project Officer George Clark via george@bristolavonriverstrust.org
