We're so excited to launch the new Catchment Monitoring Cooperative Consultation Hub which we hope will create a radical step-change in the contribution of citizen science and community monitoring.

Set up as a cooperative by name and nature, we want the hub to ignite citizen science and empower local communities by making them part of the decision-making process in their local environment. The Hub aims to build a network of change-makers, to drive the monitoring programme forward. There will be opportunities to input through consultation and co-design at each stage.

To begin with, we're looking for views from anyone with an interest in evidence-based catchment management, citizen science and community monitoring of the environment. This is the first stage of consultation on a proposal.

Stage 1 will run for two months and the resources include a video presentation, detailed proposal document and a feedback survey, and we intend to run some discussion webinars in early July.

There will be further consultation stages in the coming months where we will seek feedback on the thematic and geographic scope of the CMC and we are looking to engage all interested parties who wish to work with us on an audit of methods, gap analysis and co-design of methods and protocols, as well as the integration of data platforms and development of a coordinated training programme.

For more information, watch this short introductory video: