ARK Water Matters project for schools continues through Lockdown

Despite the current lockdown Action for the River Kennet (ARK) is continuing to adapt and is still connecting local school children, both key worker students at school and children learning from homes, to their local rivers through their Water Matters project.

The local charity, which is the Rivers’ Trust for the Kennet Catchment, has adapted again during COVID restrictions and is running live workshops via Zoom and Teams getting students from Wiltshire and Berkshire schools excited about their local rivers and the amazing wildlife that lives in it and by it.

Philip Ashbee-Dobbins is a teacher at Ogbourne Primary, his class are currently taking part in the project. He said, “I am so impressed that ARK continue to provide an ongoing awareness of Water Matters for my class in a way that is not only educational – but engaging. Thank you!”

The project has an important message: our rivers are globally rare chalk streams. Water is a valuable resource and the water we all use comes from the underground chalk aquifers that feed our chalk streams. There’s a vital link to make, the more water we use the less that is left to support these rare chalk rivers and streams, like the Kennet. Being Water Smart (water efficient) is a small thing that everyone can do to keep their local river flowing and healthy.

The Water Matter Project is in partnership with Thames Water. “We’re delighted to continue working with ARK on the Water Matters Schools Project, even during these challenging times. It’s a credit to the team that the project continues to allow our younger customers the chance to learn about their local environment, even while sat behind the computer at home. We all have a part to play in looking after our rivers and this is a great example of how we can work collaboratively to achieve that, even during a lockdown,” said Thames Water Education Manager Paul Hampton.