Urban Riverfly Training at Chalvey Community Hub

Please secure your spot here!

Date: Sunday 23 November 2025

Venue: Chalvey Community Hub, Ladbrooke Road, Slough, SL1 2SR

Timings: 09:15 – 16:00 (more details are in the below table). Please note, timings are slightly flexible, so we may finish slightly earlier/later than 16:00.

Structure of the day:

09:15 = Arrivals, registration and refreshments

09:20 = Intros, health & safety and biosecurity

09:50 = Introduction to Riverfly monitoring (RMI)

10:20 = Break tea/coffee

10:30 = Target groups – identification, life history & ecology

11:15 = RMI fieldwork – theory

11:45 = BREAK (lunch)

12:15 = RMI fieldwork – practical session in the river at Salt Hill Park

14:45 = Clean equipment and kit

15:15 = ID quiz (back inside the pavilion)

15:30 = Online database and RMI in practice

15:45 = Questions and feedback

16:00 = Finish

Getting there: The centre is a 25-minute walk from Slough Station and a 2-minute walk from the Grove Academy stop (6 bus). If you’re driving, there is a car park at the centre, which is free for the day

Lunch: Please bring your own lunch with you.

Clothing: Please dress appropriately for the weather: If there is rain in the forecast, bring a raincoat. In general for riverfly monitoring, please wear long trousers and wear or bring a long-sleeved top/fleece/jumper to protect yourself from nettles or giant hogweed. Please also wear sturdy shoes for the walk to the site for the practical session.

Waders: Please fill in the waders section in the sign-up form, so I know your shoe size and can make sure I bring enough waders to fit everyone. I won’t be able to let you keep these waders, unfortunately – they will just be loaned to you for the training day. Also, please let me know if you are going to bring your own waders.

Equipment: All equipment for the RMI practical fieldwork will be provided on the day – I will give you/the person representing your group your monitoring kit to take home with you. This kit includes: a large net (approximately 1.5m tall so I would advise not cycling if you are the designated person in your group who is taking the net home), a 16 litre bucket, a large white tray, a nine-section divided tray, a large pipette, a couple of small pipettes, a couple of plastic spoons, a magnifying glass and a paintbrush.

Under 18s: Please note, if you are under the age of 18, you must be accompanied by a legal parent or guardian in order to attend.

Let me know if you have any questions by emailing me at harrison.tremain@thames21.org.uk

In Collaboration with Project Sponge: Project Sponge is a DEFRA-funded project working to create climate-resilient neighbourhoods using nature-based solutions such as rain gardens, Sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS) and local stream restoration work.

The project is working with local residents and organisations to co-design solutions that help manage local flood risk, support biodiversity, and make our neighbourhoods greener and healthier places to live. Supporting activities like the Riverfly Training is part of our wider outreach to connect local people with the natural environment and build knowledge and skills around local streams and water systems, helping us all play a part in creating a more climate-resilient community.