What do the Bugs in our Brooks tell us about our Water Quality?

Following NRN’s 5 year water survey of 10 sites around Eynsham, expert Dr. Maarten van Hardenbroek will help us survey the ponds and streams for invertebrates and help us understand  what they tell us about how clean our water is.

Will we find, for example, the extremely rare and beautiful crystal moss animal (Lophopus crystallinus, a rare freshwater bryozoan, pictured above), which was recorded in Eynsham’s Chilbrook in the 1970s and only exists in a few other sites in the UK? 

_{Chart showing WHPT index (water quality index based on invertebrates) and the number of species in the Harcourt Brook and the Chil Brook. We will see how these trends continue in 2026....downwards or upwards, but hopefully the latter.}

Please tell the leader on the day if you would prefer not be photographed.

This event is part of Great Big Green Week - Supported by Oxfordshire County Council.