Volunteer training

Anstruther Improvements Association (AIA) worked with Forth Rivers Trust (FRT) to train volunteers in water quality monitoring techniques and to set up a tailored, community-led monitoring programme for the Dreel Burn, which began in January 2023. 

The AIA also organised training in the Riverfly Partnership’s national Riverfly Monitoring Initiative (RMI) to coordinate invertebrate monitoring. This began in January 2024.

The AIA's dedicated community scientist volunteers have gathered over two years' worth of data for water quality and over one year's worth of data on invertebrate populations in the burn. This data is vital to baseline the health of the burn so that the effects of existing and future interventions can be understood.

Thanks to the Dreel Burn Investment Readiness Partnership, the AIA has worked with the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and the James Hutton Institute, who provided advice on optimal testing locations and additional opportunities for community science activity, such as soil monitoring.

The AIA can coordinate further Riverfly monitoring training for volunteers, so if you would like to get involved in this or other volunteer activities on the Dreel Burn, please get in touch here.