Volunteers have joined together to test the health of a local river.

The River Dane, which passes through Cheshire, Staffordshire and Derbyshire, takes its name from Old Welsh word 'dafn' for 'slow moving river'.

And the people who have up their time have seemingly done a thorough job on assessing the contents of the waters.

Between September 20 and 23 September 2024, Dane Valley Climate Action Group (DVCAG) took part in the Great UK Water Blitz, which was organised by Earthwatch Europe.

The river was tested in 15 locations. Here are the results of the independent findings.

The aim of the project was to facilitate volunteers to undertake water tests in different freshwater locations nationwide so that a map of the results across the UK could be created in real time, as the 'citizen scientists' uploaded the results of the tests they had carried out at specified locations.

DVCAG signed up to take part in the Great UK Water Blitz and was supplied with sufficient FreshWater Watch water testing kits to test the waters at 15 different locations along a stretch of the River Dane, starting near Gradbach Mill and then downstream to below the confluence with Shell Brook.

Several of the locations involved testing samples taken both upstream and downstream of the main confluences with the river. The river dane passes through local landmarks like the Three Shires Head, and parishes like Wincle and Bosley.

DVCAG Trustee, Giles Meadows, who volunteered to undertake tests at several locations, said: "The River Dane is such an important part of our local environment, and I am very keen to ensure it is in good health."

DVCAG aims to raise awareness locally and campaign about the climate and nature crises. As well as assessing the state of rivers, they also plant lots of trees. (Image - DVCAG)

"The test results are therefore largely reassuring, with nearly all the testing locations showing low concentrations of nutrients.

"However, there are a few points of higher concentrations which need to be further investigated. It is worth noting that the location with the highest concentration of nutrients was the Feeder Canal, which is the only still water tested. It seems likely that concentrations of nutrients will be lower where the water is moving. DVCAG is very grateful to all the volunteers who have given up their time to take part in the Great UK WaterrBlitz! along this stretch of the River Dane."

The Dane Valley Climate Action Group operates in the villages of Bosley, Danebridge, Heaton, Rushton Spencer, Swythamley and Wincle.

In October, the organisation will celebrate their fifth anniversary.

The organisation will turn five this month. (Image - DVCAG)

Macclesfield: To find more about them, please click HERE.