Scarp slope streams

The major chalk streams of the Chilterns rise on the south-east facing ‘dip slope’ of the Chilterns escarpment.

The north-west facing, more steeply sloping scarp slope does not appear to have much in the way of watery landscape features at first sight, but look a little deeper and you will find many small streams and ponds. Many of these are fed by chalk springs and in the upper course have all the characteristics of chalk streams. These form the headwaters and catchment for the nearby River Thame.

In the past this area has been overlooked meaning that we know far less about the scarp slope streams than the better known chalk streams to the south. How many freshwater habitats are there? What sort? In what condition? And, especially, what biodiversity do they contain or have potential to host?

Since 2020 the Chilterns Chalk Streams Project has worked in partnership with the  River Thame Conservation Trust (RTCT)  to identify and map the biodiversity of freshwater features along the Chiltern escarpment. The next phase of the project is to work with landowners and farmers to identify restoration opportunities to improve connectivity.

This is hopefully the first of more projects in partnership with RTCT looking at the chalk streams interface between the Chilterns escarpment and River Thame tributary catchments.