THE hunt is on for waterway fans who want to help keep the River Avon healthy as it flows through Wiltshire.

Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) are running Riverfly Partnership training sessions this spring, teaching people how to identify the various flies which live on the river so they can take part in monitoring programmes which give the river a health check.

"River invertebrates, such as mayflies and stoneflies, are key indicators of good water quality and a healthy river environment. Different species of invertebrates have varying levels of sensitivity, so where rivers have been polluted we can use them to tell us more about the type and severity of the pollution," explained project officer Harriet Alvis. "They can also indicate pollution before it becomes visible to a passer-by, such as fish kill events, allowing earlier action to be taken therefore reducing their severity."

The one day training sessions, paid for by a Big Lottery grant, are open to anyone and no previous experience is necessary. Monitors will become part of a catchment wide network of people all helping to maintain healthy rivers by learning about the threats facing our rivers.

“With government cuts to environmental funding, the time given by volunteers to citizen science projects has never been more valuable. This project will give local people a chance to learn more about the fascinating but often overlooked invertebrate life in their local river, and work as part of a community of BART volunteers to protect our rivers for the benefit of people and wildlife,” Ms Alvis added.

The training days run from 10am-4pm in Lacock on April 28, Batheaston on May 11 and Freshford on May 20.

If you are interested in getting involved as a volunteer then please email harriet@bristolavonriverstrust.org