Your chance to take part in river survey

That is the question being posed by a major new public survey launched this week at www.ourrivers.org.uk.

The survey aims to build up a picture of East Sussex rivers by getting feedback from people asking them to provide information about the wildlife they encounter on their local river.

The results will be used in the second annual awards from the Our Rivers campaign, led by WWF-UK, RSPB, the Angling Trust and the Salmon and Trout Association. The awards will include the best rivers in England and Wales for spotting wildlife, and the county whose rivers are most treasured by local people.

Jack Clarke, from the Our Rivers campaign, said: “Rivers are fantastic places to watch wildlife.

“Many of us have a river close to our homes where we love to walk, fish or simply sit and reflect and we’re hoping we can encourage this national army of river wildlife spotters to tell us what they have seen.

“We’re really looking forward to hearing which species people have seen in their area, but we are also asking what has changed and been lost. As well as encouraging people to enjoy their local river wildlife there is also serious, and worrying, message behind this.

“Much of our native river wildlife is threatened by rural and urban pollution, over abstraction, sewage discharges and invasive species. An official Environment Agency report says nearly three quarters of rivers in England and Wales are failing European environmental targets.

“We need to raise awareness of these issues and put pressure on the Government to do something about them ahead of the publication of the upcoming Water White Paper. This document will set out how our Government cares for our river network and the wildlife that depends on it.”