Our formal project has now come to an end. Our teams of which we had 23, consisting of 3/4 members on average monitored rivers important to themselves in their own locations around Devon. As they carried out monitoring they spoke and made connections with many other people who were interested to know what we were doing. Some of the teams also took part in the Water Blitz in September and some are going on to continue monitoring rivers by them and will take part in the Water Blitz in April. Ladies involved were from a wide upper age range and with different abilities. They all enjoyed the project very much. Thank you for the opportunity.

So far 30 monitoring session have happened over the winter period and the spring monitoring has just started. Our members are very engaged with the whole project. Some of the teams have more than one site that they are monitoring.

We now have 20 committed teams throughout Devon which is great news.
Training has been provided
Talks are going on around the country to larger groups
The first 4 sets of data are also in and uploaded

Please find receipts for the seed funding

We have now launched the project in the North and South of Devon. 18 Teams have now committed to monitor 11 rivers. We have had two kick off and training meetings - so all members have been trained in the use of the kit. The events were attended by around 40 people and each of these will take the information to their own WI group, and each of these have an average of around 45 people or more. We have also been asked to provide a presentation to the library in Barnstable for public viewing next year. The first two survey results have now been submitted. There are two additional support dates booked for January . We have made contacts with Friends of the River Dart, Zero Hour, Friends of the River Exe.

The project is now well under way with 18 committed teams in place, monitoring has started with the first two surveys being uploaded.

We have set the date for the initial meeting to be held for Devon WI, this will be in November 2023.

CLEAN WATERS FOR PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE PROJECT – WI Members in Devon

Starting Autumn 2023

Seed Funding will be spent on two large publicity events, one in the north of Devon and the other in the south of Devon.  The purpose of the events is to bring as many people together to discuss the objectives and actions required of the project and also to identify locations of water that need monitoring.  We would also like to have an informed speaker at both of these events – possibly SW Water and/or Surfers against Sewage – there may be expenses to pay.  The events will also require refreshments.

Additionally, training of monitoring groups will be required and 4 venues will be sourced for this training which will be face to face.

There will be two different types of meetings and they will be done on Zoom/Teams

1. The project team and we will meet once every 2 months for project progression and review


2. The monitoring groups – they will meet up every quarter for project progression and review and a project team member will attend to facilitate these meetings.

Impact –

• Education of members – at least 100 people +


• Identification of local rivers that are important to our members and to local communities


• Identification of 20 groups (10 in the north and 10 in the south is proposed) that will monitor rivers will receive training in H & S, monitoring and recording findings.


• Monitoring of water quality in the identified locations and recording of findings


• Local MPs will be contacted with regard to the quality of water found in their areas


• Use of technology to record findings, including the mapping of identified rivers


• Add to campaigns including: FreshWater Watch,  Clean Waters for People and Wildlife (WI); Protecting Wild Waters (SAS)


• Publicity regarding the project will be through
  
  
  
  • A bi monthly newsletter send out to over 200 WI groups with 2000 membership
  
  
  • The Devon WI website
  
  
  • Social media platforms
  
  
  • Informing National Federation of the project and project results, this may then feature in a National Magazine
  
  
  
  

To still solve

• Make up of monitoring groups


• Once locations are identified we can seek landowners’ permissions