An environmental group is hopeful of tapping into local support as volunteers are needed to test the water around Petersfield and the Rother Valley.

The Arun and Rother Rivers Trust is looking for volunteers to become “citizen scientists” by regularly checking the quality of the water in the Rother and its tributaries.

Volunteers who feed input into the group’s Water Quality Initiative through monthly surveys will help experts to paint a long-term picture of chemical, pollution and wildlife levels in our local rivers and streams.

People who are interested can find out more this Friday, May 3, as Keir Smith of the ARRT will hold a taster event from 10am at Goodyer Meadow in Petersfield.

Participants will be given a demonstration on how to collect and test samples, from phosphates and nitrates to turbidity and temperature.

A spokesman said: “By regularly testing and gathering water quality data we can identify pollution events in our rivers and help create positive transformations for rivers within West Sussex and Hampshire.

“Collecting a meaningful long-term set of data will help guide decision making and enable positive changes for our river systems.”

People who would like to attend the taster session should email [email protected] so enough kits can provided with participants asked to meet at the platform by the sustainable drainage pond.