June news from the River Wey
Look at what we have been up to…
Water voles!
We kicked off June with true British weather, rain, more rain and a little ray of sunshine!
After the successful release of 300 water voles onto the North Wey last month, a clean up crew of brave souls headed out into the driving rain to collect all the release cages. There’s something quite magical about trudging through wet meadow grass with other like minded folk, knowing those little whiskered faces are now exploring their new home. We are very please to report that the water voles seem to be settling into their new habitat. It was such a fabulous project to be involved in. You can read more on National Trust website Water voles return to the River Wey | National Trust
Invasive species
Following the success of our first Balsam Bash of the year, superstar Morgan, joined by Erica and Paul, braved some truly cranky weather to pull up thousands of plants. A sterling effort, and when you remember that one balsam plant can produce up to 800 seeds, you realise just how huge their impact was. Thank you to all the folks who did their bit and pulled together along the Wey.
Events
On Sunday 7th June we were invited to New House Coffee & Culture event to chat with the local community about the River Wey; we shared stories of water voles, showcased some of our lab equipment in action and and spent time answering questions about how people can get involved in testing and caring for their stretch of the river.
Mid‑June was buzzing with activity! We joined the River Wey Trust at Allee’s Meadow in Liphook for our first Bramshott Open Gardens weekend. The meadow drew a steady stream of visitors keen to chat about river health, spot water vole habitats (we even heard a plop!) and try kick‑sampling. It’s always inspiring to see people connect rivers, gardens, and wildlife.
We also spent time sharing how our monthly testing works, showing families the tiny freshwater invertebrates that tell us so much about river health, and chatting about the wider work happening across the catchment. If you are interested in this please join the River Wey Trust on the last Sunday of the month at Allee’s meadow. Details below.
Next came Guildford Green Day, bright, busy, and full of energy! Water Rangers, River Wey Trust, and ZERO Carbon Guildford teamed up on the high street to launch our fundraising mission to sponsor a funded test site in Guildford. Funds support lab analysis, materials, data uploads, and volunteer training. We raised over £300 by screen printing on bags, spinning the wheel and adding to the river of ribbons, huge thanks to all the volunteers who made it happen! There are still ways to donate so watch this space!
As June winds down, we’re catching our breath, focusing on lab work, recruiting new volunteers, and planning the next wave of river adventures. Let’s keep the Wey flowing with life and community spirit. And thank you to every volunteer who makes this magic happen. We simply couldn’t do it without you.
Water Rangers in Action
As we pass the longest day of the year and step into a summer heatwave, it feels like the perfect moment to pause and reflect on how our shared efforts are helping the Wey thrive. Through Water Rangers and the River Wey Trust, local volunteers are part of a growing citizen‑science movement that’s improving the health of our rivers and deepening our understanding of freshwater ecosystems.
With simple, accessible tools and an open‑source data platform, Water Rangers makes it easy for anyone to test, record, and share water‑quality results, turning local data into meaningful insights for healthier rivers and lakes. Alongside partners like CaSTCo and The Wey Landscape Partnership, we’re building connections across the UK, strengthening monitoring networks, and filling vital data gaps.
Every test, every conversation, and every shared result helps create a clearer, more connected picture of the Wey’s health and reminds us how powerful community science can be when we all play our part.
Standing events
- 2nd Tuesday of every month, 12-1pm : Water testing demonstrations with Alex. Come to Zero and we will head to the river.
- Every Thursday 10-12pm or 2-4pm : Packing party. Join Alex & Fiona getting kits and orders ready.
- Weekend of last Sunday of the month : Water testing weekend and kick testing/Riverfly monitoring at Allee’s Meadow. Testing Point here. The gate to the meadow is here, or park in the Liphook London Road lay-by and follow the path through to the meadow. The path starts here.
If you would like to know more about volunteering with us please email alex@waterrangers.com.