The Evenlode Catchment Partnership: fighting together for river health
Added: 18th March 2025
FreshWater Watch is our global movement of volunteers who test the water quality of their local rivers, lakes, ponds and streams. The data they collect can be used to fight for real change. Hear from some of our citizen scientists who take action for the River Evenlode through the Evenlode Catchment Partnership.
FreshWater Watch and the Evenlode Catchment Partnership
The River Evenlode flows through some of the Cotswolds’ most beautiful countryside, before joining the River Thames near Oxford. But, like many rivers in the UK, it is under threat from pollution.
We are a proud partner of the Evenlode Catchment Partnership. The ECP was set up in 2014 to improve the water quality of the River Evenlode. Using our FreshWater Watch toolkit, a growing number of local volunteers regularly test the river and its brooks for nutrient pollution. This also includes pupils from Enstone Primary School, the first ‘freshwater citizen science school’ in the catchment.
Watch the video to find out what they have discovered.
A lot of people think: I’m just one person, what difference can I make? But learning about the problems [affecting fresh water], having the data to back this up and use to advocate for the river, maybe push for policy change… that’s powerful.
Sam Frith, Community Engagement Coordinator (FreshWater Watch)
I’m part of this great body of citizen scientists who are concerned about our waterways, and who feel that it’s wrong for our rivers not to be in the healthy condition they were in our childhood.
John Pratt, community volunteer
Every single river heads into the ocean, and if things are in it like plastic, slurry and sewage, it will all float down the river into the sea. If we keep doing the river tests and not dropping litter that will help rivers and all bodies of water.
Pupils from Enstone Primary School
Learn more about FreshWater Watch in the UK and how to join the fight for healthy fresh water.
If you want to dive deeper into some of the challenges affecting our waterways, listen to the Evenlode Catchment Partnership’s ‘Voices of the River’ podcast series hosted by our Community Engagement Coordinator, Sam Frith, and Jennifer Lanham from Cotswolds National Landscape.