Studying the Luton

Studying the

Luton Lea

The Luton Lea is the section of the River Lea from Houghton Regis, Lewsey and Leagrave Park to Luton Hoo Lakes. This guide introduces six sites where schools can easily access the River and/ or its tributaries, provides key information on access and safety along with some suggested activities at each site. The River Lea was once a pure chalk stream that was the centre of town life. It provided clean drinking water to Luton and London and was the focal point for everything from the local straw hat making industry to major engineering firms. However, over time it become degraded, hidden from view in part of the town and polluted but the River has been making a good recovery over the last few years as part of a programme to re-naturalise it and reduce the pollution; and it offers a great opportunity for pupils of all ages to explore their local area, to carry out field work for geography and science and to find inspiration for art and story- telling. Pupils can follow in the footsteps of Romans at Limbury Meadows; look for artefacts on Luton’s 19th Century ‘beach’; study forces at Luton’s own suspension bridge in Wardown Park; and look for signs of ‘Ratty’ the rare and elusive Water Vole which is doing well on the Luton Lea.

The River’s Source The River Lea rises at three points, all in public parks: Houghton Hall Brook in Houghton Hall Park, Houghton Regis; Lewsey Brook in Lewsey Park, Luton; and Five Springs in Leagrave Park, Luton. Tradition suggests that there are five springs at this location, where the water seeps up from below the ground. It is not easy to count five springs today, but there are a number of interlocking pools filled by the rising waters which then trickle into a little channel – the start of the River Lea. The area is known as Wellhead, another name for the source of a river. A secondary source to the north-west of the park feeds the Sundon Brook, which joins the Lea just downstream at Rotten Corner. The Tributaries. As the River Lea starts its journey to the Thames, it is joined by other tributary streams. Before leaving Leagrave Park it is met by the Lewsey Brook, which rises in Lewsey Park and is itself first joined by the Houghton Brook from Houghton Regis. At Limbury the Lea is joined by the Cats Brook or Catch Brook, which rises in a garden in Icknield Way. Finally it is met by the Riddy Brook from Cowslip Meadow which joins the Lea under the A6 at Austin Road.

The River's Course In Leagrave Park, the river rises in the fragile wetland habitat of Leagrave Marsh, then passes through the wooded area of Rotten Corner and then on through an area once known as Blockers’ seaside, popular with hat industry workers due to the sandy riverside ‘beach’. From here, the river flows alongside part of the Icknield Way Path, the oldest roadway in Britain running for some 105 miles from Buckinghamshire to Norfolk; through Fallowfield, a County Wildlife Site; and alongside the A6 and into Wardown Park where it feeds Wardown Lake. The Park here is also home to Wardown Museum exhibiting permanent and rotating displays about the history of the town and the industry surrounding the river. In the town centre, the majority of the River is hidden from view, running in culverts underneath the main town library and the Mall. From St Mary’s Road roundabout it flows unculverted and can next be seen along the edge of Manor Road Park before then running alongside the Vauxhall Recreation Club and into Luton Hoo Lakes. From here it runs through Hertfordshire and into the Lea/ Lee Valley it then passes through the Olympic Park at Stratford before join the Thames at Bow Creek opposite the 02 Arena.

Further information

Ideas and resources for education projects focusing on pollution and monitoring the River can be found at:- http://www.groundwork.org.uk/Sites/east/pages/river-lea-education-resources-east

An internet search will provide sources for further information about the River and its history , e.g. http://river-lea.co.uk/

An informative walk leaflet with history and information about walking the Luton Lea. http://www.travelluton.co.uk/downloads/lea_valley_walk_July_2013.pdf

Ideas for activities based around river studies

Activity EYFS KS1 KS2 KS3 KS4 KS5

Using map & aerial photos to locate the river

Comparing the river environment to the school environment

Making a map to the river

River dipping for invertebrates

Testing water samples

River fieldwork skills - measure water velocity and create a cross-section of the river bed to identify erosion patterns. Identify plant species in river and map distribution Survey marginal vegetation including invasive species - identification and distribution Survey animal life - mammal tracking and mini beasts survey Plant survey of grassland using quadrats and transects

Tree health survey of trees on and around the river bank River management case study

How to look after and protect the river environment

Curriculum links

Key Stage 1 and 2 Science

 Animals including humans - identify and name a variety of common animals that are carnivores, herbivores and omnivores  Living things and their habitats - identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, including microhabitats  identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited and describe how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different kinds of animals and plants, and how they depend on each other  Describe how animals obtain their food from plants and other animals, using the idea of a simple food chain, and identify and name different sources of food.  Recognise that living things can be grouped in a variety of ways  Explore and use classification keys to help group, identify and name a variety of living things in their local and wider environment  Describe how animals obtain their food from plants and other animals, using the idea of a simple food chain, and identify and name different sources of food.  Construct and interpret a variety of food chains, identifying producers, predators and prey.  Identify how animals and plants are adapted to suit their environment in different ways and that adaptation may lead to evolution.

Key stage 1 and 2 Geography

 Use simple fieldwork and observational skills to study the geography of their school and its grounds and the key human and physical features of its surrounding environment.  Use fieldwork to observe, measure, record and present the human and physical features in the local area using a range of methods, including sketch maps, plans and graphs, and digital technologies.

Key Stage 3 and 4 Geography

 Human and Physical Geography – to understand how human and physical processes interact to influence, and change landscapes  Geographical skills and fieldwork - use fieldwork in contrasting locations to collect, analyse and draw conclusions from geographical data, using multiple sources of increasingly complex information.

Key Stage 4 Science

 Ecosystems - methods of identifying species and measuring distribution, frequency and abundance of species within a habitat  Ecosystems - some

Reducing risks on field trips

Using the environment for educational purposes is a well-established practice, but the teacher or group leader has special responsibilities as regards safety, respect for the interests of others and the conservation of the areas used. This information is an introduction only and does not replace any guidelines provided by your school, the Local Education Authority or your group organisation.

SAFETY Proper planning, including a visit beforehand, good supervision and clear instructions for the group will ensure that there is little chance of any unforeseen incident occurring. Remember, the main purposes of fieldwork are to inspire, learn, do, experience and contemplate. Fieldwork should not be confused with outdoor activities that offer a physical challenge. There are unlikely to be any very hazardous situations to deal with, but leaders cannot afford to be complacent, especially when working in water environments. So: Visit the site beforehand to identify any potential problems Check the insurance requirements and any special safety procedures required by the school, Local Education Authority or group organisation Check if you need parental permission for the study Discuss the project with the group carefully and agree the standards of work and behaviour expected Ensure that the group comes properly clothed for the activity and the time of year. If access to the water is planned they should all wear wellies and bring dry socks and shoes to change into. Take a First Aid Kit to cope with any minor accidents and someone who knows how to use it Leave details of the fieldwork excursion with an appropriate person. Inform them when you leave and tell them when you expect to return Check the depth of any water before venturing into it. Avoid steep banks, turbulent water, soft mud and places where it is impossible to see the bottom. Avoid swollen rivers or streams. If in doubt, stay out! Stay close to the bank Be especially aware of Weil’s Disease.

WEILS DISEASE : WATER-BASED OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Weil’s disease is a bacterial infection carried in rats' urine which contaminates water and wet river banks. The bacteria do not survive for long in dry conditions. It can occur in any water, including swift streams and rivers, but the likelihood of becoming infected is greater from stagnant or slow- moving waterways. The disease itself is relatively rare, thus overall risk of contracting it is small. However, it can be a serious illness requiring hospital treatment and can lead to kidney or liver failure, and so it is important that all reasonable precautions to avoid infection should be taken.

Pupils who have engaged in water-based activities who fall ill with the symptoms, particularly from three to nineteen days following, should be urged to see their doctor immediately. The most common symptoms are a temperature, a flu-like illness and joint and muscle pains. The individual should inform his/her doctor of the activities in which he/she has been involved.

The following action is therefore recommended:

1. Activities where children are repeatedly immersed in stagnant or slow-moving water, should be avoided. 2. Washing or showering after water-based activities is desirable. 3. Minor scratches on exposed parts of the body should be covered with waterproof plasters. Any cuts or grazes sustained during activities in water should be immediately disinfected and covered by a waterproof plaster before re-exposure to the water (using disinfectant and dressings which must be taken to the activity site by the supervisor). 4. Footwear should be worn to avoid cutting feet. 5. If staff or pupils develop a flu-like illness after water-based outdoor activities, they should consult their GP as early as possible.

The precautionary measures detailed above will reduce the risk of infection to a degree where it is acceptable. A sample risk assessment for a visit to the River and for carrying out sampling is available as a separate appendix .

(sources for Reducing Risk sections include Cornwall Rivers Project ) Accessible places for river studies along the Luton Lea.

1. Houghton Brook, Houghton Regis 2. Lewsey Brook, Lewsey Park 3. River Lea, Leagrave Park 4. River Lea, Limbury Meadows 5. River Lea, Riverside & Wardown Park 6. River Lea, Manor Park

NB: locations are approx. please check site details on site information pages. Brook heads east to Houghton Brook enter the main River

OS Central Site Grid Ref - TL 0243 2363

The Brook or River can be seen on this image as follow an old hedgerow of mature trees and shrubs. The source of the Brook/ River

Access to stream bed possible close to where the Brook rises. Viewed by some as the true source of the River Lea. The watercourse rises In Houghton Hall Park and is joined by other small brooks before joining flowing into Lewsey Brook and onto the main river at Leagrave Park. Houghton Hall Park The Brook is most easily accessed in the Houghton Hall Park behind the Sports Pavilion where at the present time (Sept 2016) it is very shallow and silted. There are however plans to desilt the Good for - observations of a watercourse in a streambed and add river shady wooded habitats. Water samples can washed gravel. easily be collected and the impact of silting on the flow can be considered. The Park also offers a variety of other habitats such as meadow, old hedgerows and mature woodland. Brook heads east to Houghton Brook enter the main River

OS Central Site Grid Ref - The Brook or River can be seen on TL 0243 2363 this image as follow an old hedgerow of mature trees and shrubs.

Access to stream bed possible close to where the Brook rises. The source of the Brook/ River

Viewed by some as the true source of the River Lea. The watercourse rises In Houghton Hall Park and is joined by other small brooks before joining flowing into Lewsey Brook and onto the main river at Leagrave Park. The Brook is most easily accessed in the Houghton Hall Park behind the Sports Pavilion where at the present time (Sept 2016) it is very shallow and silted. There are however plans to desilt the Good for - observations of a watercourse in a streambed and add river shady wooded habitats. Water samples can washed gravel. easily be collected and the impact of silting on the flow can be considered. The Park also offers a variety of other habitats such as meadow, old hedgerows and mature woodland. OS Central Site Grid Ref. Lewsey Brook TL 0459 2355

Old hedgerows The Brook in early spring Access to stream bed possible with care

Brook heads east to enter the River Lea.

Brook rises Lewsey Brook, a minor tributary of the River via a culvert Lea is a temporal water course, supplied by surface water from farmland and the nearby Lewsey housing estate . During periods of very dry weather parts of the Brook may be completely dry so checking in advance of visits is advisable. Lewsey Park

Good for - observations of a temporal watercourse, the effects of seasonal flooding; & habitats around the watercourse. The Park offers a variety of other habitats such as meadow, marsh, old hedgerows and small copses of trees. OS Central Site Grid Ref. Lewsey Brook TL 0459 2355 Access to stream bed possible with care Old hedgerows

The Brook in early spring Brook heads east to enter the River Lea.

Brook rises via a culvert

Lewsey Brook, a minor tributary of the River Lea is a temporal water course, supplied by surface water from farmland and the nearby Lewsey housing estate . During periods of very dry weather parts of the Brook may be completely dry so checking in advance of visits is advisable.

Leagrave Park ‘Well Head’ or ‘Five Springs’ is said to be the true source of the Sundon Brook - just River Lea from where it flows before it feeds the main 68Km south to join the Thames river. Access to water is in London. This section of the possible with care by the Luton Lea is relatively wide and footbridge. Water depth its a great place to observe is generally 20-50cm. many features of a river landscape. Access to the water is difficult however due to vegetation and siltation but observations can be carried out from the footbridges. NB: there is a height barrier in place at the Lewsey Brook - this feeds Sundon Park Rd car park. the main river (Houghton Brook feeds into this Brook just west of the railway line)

Leagrave Park ‘Well Head’ or ‘Five Springs’ is said to be the true source of the Sundon Brook - just River Lea from where it flows before it feeds the main 68Km south to join the Thames river. Access to water is in London. This section of the possible with care by the Luton Lea is relatively wide and footbridge. Water depth its a great place to observe is generally 20-50cm. many features of a river landscape. Access to the water is difficult however due to vegetation and siltation but observations can be carried out from the footbridges. NB: there is a height barrier in place at the Sundon Park Rd car park. Lewsey Brook - this feeds the main river (Houghton Brook feeds into this Brook just west of the railway line)

Good for - Observation of tributary, meander, source, natural .v. man-made features, flow, erosion, transportation and deposition. Sampling of aquatic invertebrates & assessing turbidity. The The main river Park offers a variety of other habitats such as meadow, marsh, old hedgerows and mature woodland. Also good for history studies with its Luton Hatters associations and the Neolithic earthwork, Waluud’s Bank. Limbury Meadows The River is quite hard to see as it flows through Limbury Meadows OS Central Site Grid Ref. - as the riverside and marginal vegetation is quite dense. Good views TL 0743 2441 can however be obtained from the bridges, and its a great place to observe the River in a more natural habitat. If driving to the site considerate parking on the surrounding residential streets is possible.

Catbrook feeds the main river and is a great place to easily & safely access the stream bed i.e. to have a paddle!

Good for - Observation of tributary, flow, aquatic plants, invertebrates & fish and for assessing turbidity by collecting water samples from the bridges. The River as seen from The area has a variety of other Runfold Ave bridge. habitats such as meadow, old hedgerows and mature trees. Limbury Meadows

OS Central Site Grid Ref. - The River is quite hard to see as it flows through Limbury Meadows TL 0743 2441 as the riverside and marginal vegetation is quite dense. Good views can however be obtained from the bridges, and its a great place to observe the River in a more natural habitat. If driving to the site considerate parking on the surrounding residential streets is possible.

Catbrook feeds the main river and is a great place to easily & safely access the stream bed i.e. to have a paddle!

Wardown Park - South of Stockingstone Road (A5228) the River meanders and then vanishes into a tunnel before re-emerging in Wardown Park where it feeds into the Lake. At the south end of the Lake the River is culverted as it heads alongside the A6 and towards a tunnel beneath the Mall. Water collection around the Lake is not advised due to the likelihood of bacterial contamination of the water from bird excreta. Parking is available at Wardown Museum car park.

Good for - Observation of natural .v. man-made features, sampling of aquatic invertebrates & assessing turbidity, and Riverside Park - South of Kingsdown observing a Ave the River winds it way south variety of through this wilder park. Access into habitats. the River itself is not possible but monitoring andThe observations main river can be carried out from footbridges. Riverside vegetation is quite lush, therefore viewing the watercourse is OS central Grid Ref. more difficult but wildlife sightings TL 0884 2318 are more likely as a result of the habitats and cover available . Manor Park OS Central Site Grid Ref. - TL 0981 2093

At the present time (09/16)* the River is very easily accessible here in Manor Park as it re-emerges after travelling underground through the town centre. This is the River in a very un-natural state as it is culverted and flows over a concrete bed. This does however make for easy access and is a Steps make the River great place to collect samples and to test out easily accessible the flow rate. Pay & display street parking is easily available if driving to the site. *Future proposals may see the River returned to a more natural state at this point.

Access via steps Good for - Observation of flow and invasive species; assessing turbidity and comparing natural .v. man-made features. The area has some other habitats such as mature trees. There is a small area of secondary woodland adjacent to Manor Road however use of this habitat is not recommended due to potential biological hazards . Manor Park OS Central Site Grid Ref. - TL 0981 2093

At the present time (09/16)* the River is very easily accessible here in Manor Park as it re-emerges after travelling underground through the town centre. This is the River in a very un-natural state as it is culverted and flows over a concrete bed. This does however make for easy access and is a great place to collect samples and to test out the flow rate. Pay & display street parking is Steps make the River easily available if driving to the site. *Future easily accessible proposals may see the River returned to a more natural state at this point.

Good for - Observation of flow and invasive species; assessing turbidity and comparing natural .v. man-made features. The area has some other habitats such as mature trees. There is a small area of secondary woodland adjacent to Manor Road however use of this habitat is not recommended due to potential biological hazards .