About this Event
Come and join us to help protect your local chalk stream!
This is not only a fun day out on the incredible River Chess, it is a chance to contribute to citizen science data that we use to protect and restore the incredibly rare chalk stream habitat. Please come along if you would like to spend a day along the river, have a go at collecting water samples and chat about chalk streams. No experience is needed but enthusiasm is very welcome!
This event is run by the Chilterns Chalk Streams Project as part of Herts Rivers Week 2026 - a celebration of rivers that flow through Hertfordshire, click on the link to find out about more exciting watery events taking place this week.
What to Expect:
On arrival to the survey day, we'll discuss the reasons for the phosphate sampling, show you how to safely and scientifically collect these water samples, then we'll send you off in groups of 2-3 people to collect your samples from locations within a mile of our 'base station' gazebo, using premade maps of the sampling sites. Water samples are collected with dip sticks and bottles, you will not need to get in the water.
On returning to 'base', we'll analyse your samples using our portable laboratory equipment and you can help us record the results live in the field.
Each sample takes around 10 minutes to process... we will provide biscuits while you wait!
Feel free to stay as we process some of the samples (it won't be possible to process all of them on the day), or you are welcome to leave once you have collected your sample(s).
Why are we doing this?
NOSES (Nutrient Ongoing Scrutiny Evaluation Survey) is a water sampling survey method named by our citizen scientists as part of the River Chess Smarter Water Catchment partnership. This survey method was designed to investigate increases in phosphorous levels in the River Chess, as identified using Environment Agency data.
The NOSES survey has now been running for several years, monitoring pollution levels in the River Chess. You can read about our findings from our first phase of NOSES phosphate surveys that we completed between Chenies and Rickmansworth, on our Smarter Water Catchment website.
This survey day repeats 2025 samples to assess nutrient levels after the phosphate stripping process was added to the Chesham sewage treatment works, and to investigate differences in nutrient levels between the Little Chess and Main Chess.
What to bring:
Please wear wellies or walking boots and long trousers/sleeves, as you will be walking through long vegetation over rough ground. You will not need to get in to the water.
Please also bring a packed lunch & drinks, a fully charged mobile phone, as well as hand sanitiser to use after sampling (we will also have some on site).
If you have the W3W app installed on your phone this would be benficial, but not essential as we have paper maps available.
Facilities:
Our base station will be close to the toilets at Restore Hope.
We will provide tea, coffee and biscuits whilst you wait for your samples to be processed.
Parking:
Please park in the main car park at Restore Hope, Latimer Park, Chesham HP5 1TU
W3W: ///tables.stocks.showed
Google pin: https://maps.app.goo.gl/mPRJeEsaEGQbLAWH7
Parking is free but you will need to sign in with your car registration in their office, please list your activity as 'NOSES Survey'.
Where to meet:
Upon arrival at Restore Hope, please sign in at their office to register your car and receive your visitor pass.
One of us will be waiting outside the office in the main car park to direct you over to the base station. The base station will be located at:
W3W: ///towns.small.gain
Google pin: https://maps.app.goo.gl/iNL8nR6CsDbJ7nFRA
Meeting time:
Please arrive promptly by 10am as we have a lot of samples to collect and process so it will be a busy but exciting day!
Weather:
We will continue to collect samples on this day regardless of dry or wet weather, however in the event of storms we may be forced to cancel or postpone. Please ensure your email address is correct when registering so we can update you accordingly in the days preceding the survey day if required.
Who can take part:
Everyone - please come and join us! This event is open to all, and you do not need any experience as we will explain the sample collection to you and provide all equipment on the day.
Under 18s are welcome but must be accompanied by a supervising adult.
Accessibility: This event does involve walking of up to 2 miles total. Due to the nature of working near the river bank, there is some rough ground and slopes involved.
If you would like to find out more about accessibility of the site, please get in touch with us by emailing [email protected] and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Restore Hope, Latimer Park, Chesham, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00
