Sustainable Hatherleigh Rivers Training

Community Water Quality Awareness and Testing

Session One: Sunday 13th September 2026 from 14:00 - 16:00*

Session Two: Saturday 3rd October 2026 from 14:00 - 16:00*

*Please note that sessions one and two are different. This is a two-part workshop and we recommend people attend both sessions if they can.

Multi-use room, Hatherleigh Community Centre, Bowling Green Lane, Hatherleigh EX20 3HB

Are you concerned about water quality in Hatherleigh and want to do something about it?

Join us for two inspiring and educational training sessions exploring water quality and how individuals and local communities can take meaningful action, with our guest speaker Carolyn Dare from the Blackdown Hills Eco Hub. Carolyn's work spans community food growing, biochar research and ecological regeneration. She works closely with several rivers groups in her locality and has been involved in various test and experiments, and is very well connected and clued up when it comes to water quality and the drive to protect our rivers.

What's involved?

Carolyn will be delivering two sessions to equip local residents and community groups with the knowledge, confidence and practical skills needed to care for their local rivers. Booking this event will ensure your place at both sessions.

Session one (13th September 2-4pm)

• Learning about water quality and pollutants
• Organising your river action group
• Water testing equipment
• Collecting and collating data
• Getting stakeholders involved
• Darren Searle from North Devon Biosphere and the Healthy Rivers project will also present a slot about his project and exploring river data

Session two (3rd October)

This will include a practical demonstration in the local river, less than five minutes walk from the Community Centre. Please wear appropriate footwear and clothes. Access to the river involves climbing over a stile.

• Water quality testing - demo
  
• Observational survey
• Connecting to the wider network of rivers groups

Who should attend?

This training is open to anyone with an interest in caring for their local river. It's open to residents beyond Hatherleigh – we're keen to support other rivers groups and work together to share skills and knowledge.

With support from: