Brent Catchment Community
Residents, schools, friends groups and councils working together on the River Brent.
Who takes part
The Brent Catchment Community brings together people who live, work and learn along the river. Local groups contribute knowledge of their streets and parks, while the partnership supplies technical support, training and access to data.
- Friends groups maintaining riverside paths and habitats
- Schools running river walks and water sampling
- Residents reporting pollution, litter and blockages
- Councils and landowners hosting restoration works
Working at neighbourhood scale
Neighbourhood groups set their own priorities within the catchment plan. Most meet monthly, keep a simple log of observations and share it with the partnership.
Groups in the upper catchment focus on headwater ponds, hedgerows and surface water flows. Groups in the lower catchment concentrate on litter, bankside access and fish movement.
Each group receives a short induction covering safety, recording methods and how to raise concerns with the relevant authority.
From the river bank
Finding out what lives in the stream changed how our street thinks about the river. The children now check the water every week.
Friends group, lower Brent
Ways to get involved
Practical work
Join scheduled clearance days, tree planting and bankside repairs led by experienced coordinators.
Recording and reporting
Submit sightings, photographs and sample results through the shared register so that issues reach the right authority.
Find the nearest access point through visit the River Brent.
Common questions
No. Training is provided for all practical and recording tasks, and volunteers can start with a single session.
Children must be accompanied by an adult. Some tasks, such as bankside work, are restricted to adults.
Contact the partnership with your location and interests. A coordinator will arrange a site walk and an induction.