Chalk Stream Restoration in Uttlesford

There are roughly 220 chalk streams in the world and 85% of them are in England. They are precious because they provide a rich variety of habitats for threatened wildlife, such as water voles, brown trout, grayling, white-clawed crayfish, Atlantic salmon, and a myriad of invertebrates on which so much of life depends. The underlying chalk is the secret to why these streams are full of life. They are not fed directly by rainfall but from underground aquifers. What emerges from springs is water that is mineral rich, crystal-clear, at constant temperature and stable flow – perfect for a wide variety of plants and wildlife.

Our Chalk Streams are under threat from pollution, too much abstraction, and the historic straightening and impounding they have suffered. Here is a project in northwest Essex to restore the health of the upper reaches of the River Cam.