Essex RiverWatch Celebration Evening

Prize winners with ESRT team and Rivers Trust CEO of The Rivers Trust Mark Lloyd

November marked the first annual event for the Essex Rivers Hub, celebrating our citizen science project - Essex RiverWatch.

This celebration evening, held at Colchester Rugby Club, marked a fantastic opportunity to revisit a year of recording for the project and wat attended by RiverWatch's citizen scientists, partner organisations and other associative members. Interactive stalls were held by Essex Suffolk Rivers Trust, Essex County Council, Essex Suffolk Water, Anglian Water and the Essex Wildlife Trust.

The Rivers Trust CEO Mark Llyod speaking of the importance of passion for our local waterways.

The evening included talks from Trust members, citizen scientists, Essex Wildlife Trust and a keynote address from Mark Lloyd, CEO of The Rivers Trust movement.

Project highlights were given by Essex Suffolk River Trust's Luke Farnish, showing citizen scientists the results of their dedication. At the time of the event 235 surveys had been completed, encasing 41 sites and 23 water bodies, a fantastic achievement so far.

The celebration also included an award ceremony for winners of various achievements or works of note. These were:

New kid on the block: Viktor Underwood – a recent project member having already made a fantastic impression with energy and enthusiasm.

Early bird: Sarah Cullen – Sarah completed the very first RiverWatch survey, setting the tone for the level of surveying seen this year.

Longest survey streak: Friends of Hoppit Mead – This group achieved a full 12 month streak of data collection, allowing for great data comparison and showing

dedication to the project.

Group of the year: Natural Boxford – This group have shown great enthusiasm and effort for their local environment. Going above and beyond surveying as part of RiverWatch and joined the Trust for balsam bashing and other applicable projects.

Spot of the year: Lesley Harper – A special wildlife moment captured by a project member, encapsulating the joy of being in nature that working in this project can bring. Lesley shared a lovely picture of a badger.

Lesley Harper's spot of the year photo

What?! Of the year: David McHattie from Dengie Climate Action Partnership – To highlight that surveying can sometimes turn up unexpected finds. For finding the most unusual item (empty fertilizer bags) whilst out recording for RiverWatch. A highlight that identifying odd finds can be valuable, and that plastic pollution is still a key subject for our waters.

Photo of the year: Laura Mansel-Thomas – The team unanimously voted that a photo of what appeared to be a duck joining volunteers in their surveying was the favourite photo of the year. Highlighting a lovely moment between humans and wildlife.

Laura Mansel-Thomas' duck volunteer photo of the year

Above and beyond: Jono West – A self-explanatory award for an individual that has taken the ethos of citizen science and volunteering and truly run with it. Involved with the RiverWatch early on and heavily involved in other ESRT initiatives

The event was very well received and enjoyed by all of those who attended, with plenty of conversation around a similar event for 2026!

A big thank you to all attendees, stall holders, fundraisers, organisers and special guests. The Essex Suffolk Rivers Trust team looks forward to future project celebrations.