River Ambassador Training

Friends of the Dart Launch River Ambassador Programme

At Friends of the Dart we have taken an exciting step toward a truly community-wide movement for river care with the launch of our new River Ambassador Programme.

On 28th November, Sandridge Barton, one of our generous partners in this emerging network, not only joined the programme but also opened their beautiful premises to host our very first Parish Ambassadors training. Among those who gathered were new ambassadors from 7 parishes, marking a powerful moment of collaboration across the wider Dart catchment.

During the session, our water technician Eliza Boyacigiller, guided participants through the essentials of recognising different forms of pollution in the river, how to document what they see, and how to report concerns quickly and accurately. From understanding nutrient disturbances to spotting urban runoff or sewage releases, Ambassadors learned practical skills that support both immediate action and long-term monitoring.

Welcome to our new River Ambassadors, representatives from 7 parishes across the Dart catchment.

This programme marks the first phase of our vision: a network of trained community members able to test and tend the river from source to sea. We want every tributary, every village, and every community to be part of this shared effort. With people watching over every stretch of the river, and monitoring and discovering every potential source of pollution, we can gather the detailed information needed to build a clearer picture of what the Dart is facing and support polluters to resolve issues.. 

If you’re interested in joining the River Ambassador Programme or would like to know when the next training session is happening in your parish, please get in touch. Thank you to Devon Environment Foundation and The Dart Valley Fund who have enabled this to happen. We are very grateful for your support.