An easy-to-use pictorial key to the main invertebrate groups found in freshwater is:

‘The Freshwater Name Trail’ by Richard Orton, Anne Bebbington & John Bebbington (1996), Field Studies Council, laminated fold-out chart £2.50 (totally waterproof version £4.00)

A more detailed key to the main invertebrate groups found in freshwater is:
‘A Key to the Major Groups of British Freshwater Invertebrates’ by Paul Croft (1986), Field Studies Council, £6.95

For suggested educational projects on freshwater communities see:

‘Freshwater Investigations’ by Richard Orton, Sally Haines & Judy Proctor (1995), Field Studies Council, £5.00

And an interactive CD-ROM designed for children aged 7-11 and relevant to the QCA curriculum for Science and ICT at Key Stage 2 is:

‘Ponds and Streams’ (2004), Spiny Software, home user version £19.99, school single-user version £39.99, school full site licence £60.00

All the above are available from Field Studies Council, Publications, Preston Montford, Shrewsbury SY4 1HW, e-mail publications@field-studies-council.org, website www.field-studies-council.org.

Other good books about freshwater life are:
‘A Field Guide to Freshwater Life in Britain and North-West Europe’ by Richard Fitter & Richard Manuel (1986), Collins Field Guide, hardback £32

‘Pond and River’ by Steve Parker with photographs by Philip Dowell (2000), DK Eyewitness Books, Dorling Kindersley Publishing Inc

‘Ponds and Lakes (Spotters’ Guide)’ edited by Anthony Wootton (1980, republished 2000), Usborne New Spotters’ Guide, Usborne Publishing Ltd, paperback £2.99

‘Small Freshwater Creatures (Natural History Pocket Guides)’ by Lars-Henrik Olsen illustrated by Bente Vita Pedersen & Jakob Sunesen (2001), Oxford University Press, £13.99, ISBN 0198507984.

Books for younger readers include:
‘Gem Guide to Pond Life (Collins Gems)’ by Richard Manuel (1991), Collins, paperback, ISBN 0004588258
‘Your Wildlife Pond’ by Peter Sibley illustrated by Tessa Lovatt-Smith (1993), S.G.C. Books, paperback £5.99, ISBN 1851168087.

To learn more about water pollution, visit the Environment Agency’s webpage on this subject at www.environment-agency.gov.uk and linked pages concerning the different causes of diffuse pollution, plus information on its effects and control.

One of the Environment Agency’s main aims is to achieve “an enhanced environment for wildlife” and you can read more about their objectives for this wildlife theme at www.environment-agency.gov.uk.

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