During 2024 the Friends tried our hand at some Citizen Science in the Park. This is where members of the public and scientists work together to increase scientific knowledge.
We were lucky to work with Earthwatch Europe on their “Great UK WaterBlitz” in September, and before that in July on the Natural History Museum’s GenePools project (more of that amazing project in a day or two).
Great UK WaterBlitz
During the 20-23rd September some 4,500 citizen scientists across the UK collected over 2,300 data points measuring water quality. We sampled the Regent’s Canal water at Mile End Lock measuring phosphate and nitrate levels. If these levels are too high then this can lead to the oxygen levels in the water to crash (through a process known as eutrophication) which can have a devastating effect on fish and other freshwater species.
Our measurements indicated the canal water was in fair health, though it is important to remember this is just an idea of what the water was like at this particular time and place.
This “State of the Nation” type of study gives a good snapshot across the whole of the UK of the nation’s waterways. You can take a look at the report which came off the back of this weekend of water tests here. The individual results of all the data points across the country are available to peruse on a GIS map of the whole of the UK.
