Riverfly Monitoring Initiative Training Day: Ingoldisthorpe, Norfolk

***UPDATE: This event has been postponed to May 2027 (originally August 2026) due to drought conditions across the region

Would you like to help fight river pollution in your area, and learn more about freshwater ecology? Become a Riverfly Monitor!

The Riverfly Partnership and ARISE Initiative invite you to take part in a Riverfly Monitoring training & data collection day.

We will start the day with training by the Riverfly Monitoring Initiative, which will equip you to become an official Riverfly monitor. We will provide a light lunch and refreshments, followed by a group data collection activity in the nearby river, to gather your first set of data.

As trained Riverfly monitors, you will then be invited to continue collecting monthly data on the health of your local river.

Participation is voluntary, and you may choose which activities you wish to join. Training and lunch will be provided free of charge.

We welcome participation from adults (18+) who live in, work in, or have a connection to the local area.

View the full details for the event at the following participant information sheet (https://easternarc.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ARISE-RMI-Participant-Information-Sheet.pdf).

What is the Riverfly Monitoring Initiative (RMI)?

RMI is a nationwide citizen science scheme. Volunteers collect long-term data on riverfly populations, providing valuable information on the health of our rivers.

RMI data has been used to support prosecutions by statutory agencies, has informed better management techniques, and resulted in remedial action being taken (see RMI website (https://www.riverflies.org/case-studies) for examples).

RMI monitoring acts as an excellent deterrent. The knowledge that there are monitors in the area can deter possible polluters

What are riverflies?

Riverflies are freshwater invertebrates that can tell us how healthy a river is. Because they are sensitive to pollution, changes in their numbers can show whether water quality is improving or getting worse.

What does participation in the event involve?

On the Training & Data Collection Day, participation involves:

Providing formal consent to take part

Taking part in a training session to become an official Riverfly Monitor

Completing a short questionnaire about knowledge and confidence before and after activities, and optionally sharing reflections on your experiences

Collecting data from your local river

After the training day, you are invited to:

Continue collecting monthly data as a group, to contribute to monitoring the health of your local river

If you choose, share ongoing reflections on your experience as a Riverfly Monitor

These activities aim to help protect local natural resources by improving early awareness of potential environmental concerns, supporting timely responses, and encouraging shared stewardship of local waterways and surrounding environments.

Where will the event take place?

The first part of the training will take place at the Ingoldisthorpe Village Church Hall, where we will also provide a light lunch. We will then go to the nearby Ingol River, just north of the village, to practice collecting data together. We will access the Ingol River along the public footpath from St Thomas’s Lane (near the intersection with Hill Road), which will involve a 15-20 minute walk from the hall venue to this site as a group (map included below). Location: 52.869037, 0.508376 (lat/long); headless.hobbies.steered (what 3 words).

What is the ARISE Initiative?

This event is part of a broader research study led by the University of Essex: Advancing Resilience and Innovation for a Sustainable Environment (ARISE). This study aims to strengthen resilience to environmental and social change in the coastal areas of south and east England.

View more information about the ARISE initiative here (https://easternarc.ac.uk/arise/).

Frequently asked questions

Do I need any prior experience or equipment?

Prior experience or knowledge is not required. We will provide all equipment, as well as a light lunch, free of charge.

Are there any accessibility considerations?

The indoor training session will be held at Ingoldisthorpe Village Church Hall. Accessibility information for the venue is as available on the venue website (https://ingoldisthorpechurchhall.co.uk/facilities/): there is an accessibility ramp into the building; male, female, and a restricted mobility toilet room, which also contains a baby changing platform. Parking is available at the venue.

The outdoor data collection will take place in and next to the river. Getting from the venue to the river site will require a slow 20 minute walk along a public footpath (we will walk there as a group). Some activities involve entering the river in waders, which we will provide. Volunteers doing this part of the activity will need to be comfortable wading in flowing water up to knee height and able to access the river safely from

Description supplied by the event organiser.