Bugs Matter vs Big River Watch

The number of insects has been falling at an alarming rate for many years. It's no exaggeration to say that unless something is done to halt the decline, our own future could be at risk. Patterns and trends in insect numbers are nuanced, however, and we still don't have that much information on the relative rate of decline over time, and there are too few studies looking at this problem. The Bugs Matter app is an application that enables you to get involved in this critical biodiversity monitoring. Splatted insects are an unfortunate by-product of our habitual use of vehicles, but also presents us with a prime way of monitoring them. With Bugs Matter you can contribute counts of insects and other ‘bugs’, along with the route of the journey you make in a vehicle. You can also provide details about the vehicle used (needed for data analysis) by entering the registration number. This will provide scientists with important new information that will contribute to conservation, evidence, planning, and education. Anyone with a phone and use of a vehicle can get involved with recording insect counts. It is very easy and quick to submit useful data without specialist knowledge. You do not need to be the driver of the vehicle in which you make a journey. Take action for insects and help us to study this important subject!

Our rivers face threats from plastic, sewage, nutrient and chemical pollution, which harm wildlife and us. The Big River Watch app is simple citizen science survey that anyone can take part in across the UK and Ireland, that aims to help support river restoration. All you need to do is spend a little time watching your local river and answering the questions in the app. From wildlife and water colour to plastics and pollution, Big River Watch app allows you to record your valuable observations and to upload a photograph of your local river. The app also contains handy wildlife and pollution ID guides. All of the surveys submitted will form a large data set that helps us understand what, and where, some of the problems in our rivers lie. This widespread and up-to-date information is key to support measures taken to improve our rivers. You can complete the survey at any time throughout the year, and you can do more than one survey. Surveys can be completed whilst out and then submitted at a later time if there is not sufficient mobile signal at your survey location. You should not enter the river or put yourself in a dangerous position to complete this survey. The Big River Watch is coordinated by The Rivers Trust and supported by partners and funding from: CIWEM and The Rivers Trust Foundation, for Water Research (FWR) legacy fund and Catchment Systems Thinking Cooperative (CaSTCo) project from the Ofwat Innovation fund.