Rivers Group
News and news archive

MAY 2008

Rivers and Wetlands Conservation Group.

Groundwater recovers
Across the Chilterns the 18 months up to January was among the half-dozen wettest such periods in the last hundred years. Consequently groundwater levels recovered well from the 2006 drought and most of our chalk streams began to flow along their entire length. There were two notable exceptions: the Ver still falls short of its source as it appears on OS maps by about 5km and the notoriously leaky section of the Misbourne through the Chalfonts remains dry. This latter is currently under review by the Environment Agency which is considering possible remediation options for implementation in the period from 2010.

Return of flow to the upper Bulbourne is one of the good news stories. At the Group's Spring meeting, Ned Hunt gave an excellent presentation on the history of this troubled stream, using old maps to show how it once rose much closer to the village from which it takes its name. A couple of weeks later, Ned was on hand to accompany Group members on a walk from Northchurch to the present source of the stream.

River walks
Our Group is re-introducing river walks, open to members and others alike. The next will be a circular walk, partly alongside the Misbourne, on 15 June, starting from Shardeloes old road at 2.30pm.

Misbourne declutter
The Misbourne features again on 7 June when 'Operation Declutter' will be held to tidy up the stretch of the stream through Chalfont St Peter. Members of the public are invited to drop in between 9.30am and 3pm to lend a hand. BTCV will be managing the event on behalf of the village Environment Group.