The Environment Agency confirmed that it has revoked Affinity Water’s licence to abstract water from Chesham Pumping station earlier this month, ending months of uncertainty over the future of the site. Affinity Water voluntarily turned off their pumps at the site in 2020 to improve flows in the River Chess following years of campaigning...
SmartRivers on the Hamble brook This year we conducted the first SmartRivers surveys of the Hamble, to both assess the current health of the brook and as part of baseline monitoring for planned restoration schemes. SmartRivers is a citizen science monitoring method run by Wild Fish, it involves kick-sampling to collect aquatic invertebrates with the sample sent off for laboratory...
The Chilterns National Landscape is seeking a garden designer to create a new, eco-friendly design for Chesham station garden. The award-winning garden, now managed by Chesham in Bloom volunteers, has opportunity to educate others in environmentally friendly and water conscious gardening while preserving the beloved features that make it such a special part of the...
We’re delighted that our Hamble Brook river restoration project is now featured as a case study by the Big Chalk Partership. The partnership is forging vital connections between nature recovery projects across the chalk and limestone landscapes of southern England. The Big Chalk Partnership brings together more than 150 organisations, each of which is developing and...
I’m delighted to introduce the Chilterns Chalk Streams Project Annual Report for 2024/25, which sets out not just the highlights of the last year but also presents a review of the Project’s achievements over the last five years. One of the highlights of the past year has to be the long-anticipated restoration of the Chess...
The Chilterns Chalk Streams Project, which is hosted by the Chilterns National Landscape, has secured £1 million of investment from the HS2 Additional Projects Fund towards the ‘Mending the Misbourne’ programme.
Citizen scientists are contributing to our knowledge of Chilterns chalk streams and monitoring the changes that are taking place. Citizen science is the involvement of the public in scientific research – from community-driven surveys to global investigations. It relies on an army of volunteers of all ages and abilities. So, whether you have skills and...
The River Chess Chalk Stream Challenge, launched in Autumn 2024, invites families and groups to explore chalk streams through a self-guided walk and engaging activities. Originally created by volunteers for the Watercress and Winterbournes Landscape Partnership Scheme in Hampshire, the idea was adapted for the Chess with support from the Smarter Water Catchment Project and...
Invasive non-native species can outcompete native plants, harming wildlife and the environment, and can even impact on our health. Throughout the Chilterns globally rare chalk streams are being negatively affected by these plants. Please help us fight back
Working with the landowner and using funding from Thames Waters’ Smarter Water Catchment programme, 800m of fencing and gates have been installed at Mill Farm Meadow, Chenies. This will allow controlled grazing to take place on 3½ hectares of wet meadow and help manage the vegetation growth in the bypass channel that runs alongside. This...
