The Bidwell Brook Partnership: citizen science in action

The Bidwell Brook Partnership brings together Dartington and Rattery Parish Councils, landowners, farmers, businesses, and conservation groups to improve water quality, biodiversity, and sustainable land management. Founded in 2023, BBP collaborates with the Westcountry Rivers Trust, South West Water, Devon Wildlife Trust, and the Environment Agency.

Tracking Water Quality: Citizen Science in Action
Over the past year, 20 citizen scientists used Westcountry Rivers Trust kits to monitor water quality. The Bidwell Brook Scorecard reported:
• Good levels of phosphates, dissolved solids, and turbidity
• Excellent rating of visible pollution

Concerns remain over turbidity in wet weather and bacterial contamination, of which primary sources are Rattery Sewage Treatment Works and Combined Storm Overflows (CSOs) in Dartington. South West Water has committed to eliminating CSO discharges and upgrading the Rattery facility. We have identified households with private sewage systems near watercourses and plan to provide receive testing and advisory support.

Supporting Sustainable Farming
BBP works with landowners, South West Water, and the Bat Conservation Trust to promote sustainable land management.

Key developments include:
• Integration into South West Water’s Upstream Thinking program and the Bat Conservation Trust’s Connecting People and Landscapes initiative
• Farmers receiving expert guidance on catchment-sensitive practices
• A best-practices farm network forming around Parsonage Farm
• Support for non-farming landowners in woodland management planning

Harnessing Innovation for Cleaner Water
Bacterial contamination monitoring is costly, so BBP is collaborating with Molendotech Ltd and the University of Plymouth to develop BactiQuick, a rapid bacterial detection system. This portable device will integrate AI-driven early warning systems with a smartphone app for real- time water quality measurement.

BBP volunteers are collecting data from 14 routine sites and over 30 extreme-weather locations, creating a comprehensive dataset to support both BactiQuick development and future conservation efforts.

Restoring Biodiversity Along the Brook
With support from the Devon Biodiversity Records Centre, BBP is mapping land use and habitats along the Bidwell Brook corridor through remote sensing and fieldwork. By working with landowners and monitoring key species like the Long-eared Bat, we aim to create a long-term conservation strategy for a thriving, interconnected habitat network.

Community-Led Conservation: A Knowledge Broker
Our primary role has not been to do practical things but to act as a “knowledge broker” coordinating different initiatives to support a shared vision. By giving priority to professional support for farmers and working with the programmes of key organisations, BBP aims to create a lasting environmental legacy.

For more information, contact: info@bidwellbrook.org

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