Thank you to the 20 volunteers (or so) who have been out again testing the Rivers Hart, Whitewater and Blackwater and Cove Brook for Nitrates and Phosphates plus looking out for signs of nature and water pollution. We have been testing the waters for 7 months now and the month end visits are becoming a regular pattern in our lives.

Our Logo

The featured image is our new logo. Plenty of input by different participants has gone into creating the best image possible. The featured winged insect is a Banded Demoieselle. This beautiful damselfly can be seen on the Rivers Blackwater and Hart and also on the Basingstoke Canal at certain times of year.

Making sense of our data

This useful image of data interprets the readings collected for nitrates and phosphates is helpful to make a judgement of the water quality from clean to very polluted. Cove Brook, Tices Meadow and Aldershot Park sites all have good water quality using the information in the chart which is good to know.

Other good news

Crondall Pond, the source of the River Hart is no longer dry and filling up with water. Water was last observed in the pond on the 15th March 2025. The pond has been dry for 7 months. This doesn’t mean drought is over – water scarcity is an ongoing problem.

Flea Tick Medication Campaign

BVAR are keen to set up a campaign on the impact of Dog Flea and Tick medication on water quality and the health of invertebrate life in our rivers. It was therefore positive to see this sign at Greywell raising awareness to the public.