Citizen Science and Chalk Stream Conservation

Iona McMillan has a Biodiversity Conservation and Management MSc from the University of Oxford, where she developed a passion for interdisciplinary environmental science.

She has worked with the National Trust as a Ranger, conducting practical land management and ecological monitoring programmes. Since 2025 she has been Citizen Science Coordinator for the Chilterns Chalk Streams Project which is hosted by the Chilterns National Landscape. She manages water quality and ecology monitoring programmes, as part of work to restore chalk stream habitat.

Iona explored the vital role that citizen science plays in conservation – and how everyone can get involved! Focusing on case studies from the Chilterns Chalk Streams Project, Iona explained different monitoring techniques, and how volunteers can help to drive forward river restoration projects. For example, water vole populations are increasing along the river Chess – Iona showed the very cute photo below but she did mention that they are shy and rarely visible.

Topics covered:

• Water Quality Monitoring Schemes
• Ecological Monitoring Schemes
• Chalk Stream Restoration Impact Case Studies
• Other types of Citizen Science projects

Links mentioned during the talk:

Chilterns chalk stream project: https://www.chilternstreams.org/

RSPB (eg Big Garden Birdwatch): https://www.rspb.org.uk/helping-nature/volunteering

Chilterns National Landscape: https://www.chilterns.org.uk/

There are many ways to get involved, depending on what interests you and where you live. Search the internet using terms such as conservation, volunteering, and citizen science and include your favourite little bit of nature: water voles, rivers, butterflies, wild flowers… Happy hunting!