Important Freshwater Areas Important Freshwater Landscapes

The Brecks’ Fen Edge & Rivers Landscape Partnership Scheme Citizen Science: Testing the Water

Catchment Project

Testing the Water was part of The Brecks’ Fen Edge & Rivers Landscape Partnership Scheme (BFER LPS), a Landscape Heritage Scheme for the Norfolk and Suffolk Brecks. It built on the legacy of the Breaking New Ground Landscape Partnership Scheme (2013-17) to continue to develop and refocus engagement, public awareness and positive action on the heritage of The Brecks’ fen edge, river and wetland landscapes in this unique part of East Anglia.

Aerial view of the River Thet and surrounding ponds in the Brecks

Between 2020 and 2024 the Partnership ran a minimum of 24 projects, including Testing the Water. This involved working with partners and communities to explore and raise awareness of water resource issues. The partnership restored key rivers and habitat corridors and celebrated the historic links between human settlement and water, contributing to the area’s sense of identity.

Testing the Water: a citizen science project

Freshwater Habitats Trust led on one of these projects: ‘Testing the Water’. This was a citizen science project to raise awareness of habitat loss, pollution and rare species.

We engaged local people in practical activities to get new information about the project area. This included getting involved with surveys and carrying out cutting-edge environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling of ponds, streams, ditches and river headwater streams. Volunteers also used rapid water quality test kits to reveal the pollution that is otherwise invisible and largely unknown.

Woman kneeling next to a waterbody, wearing blue disposable gloves, pointing an eDNA testing kit at the water.

Learning more about freshwater wildlife

We mapped the results of these volunteer surveys, to identify water quality and find out more about the distribution of key Red List species in the project area.

This helped to increase local awareness and inform better conservation management practices. We also ran workshops, activities and events for families, including curriculum linked schools’ engagement.

Hand holding a clip board with a leaflet and map next to a pond