Supported by Looking after the The two River Wey Trusts The older organisation, The River Wey Trust based Looking after Help to protect and enjoy the landscape in concerns itself with the southern branch and its wildlife of the river from to Tilford and initially the River Wey Activities focused on water meadow conservation. River wardening Individual sections of the northern The Northern Wey Trust (NWT) formed later with Wey are visited by river wardens monthly to report the initial concern of the excessive drying out of the on the visual state of the river and its wildlife. upper reaches of the northern Wey around Alton due Natural history The northern Wey is a chalk to unsustainable water abstraction. The borehole stream supporting fly fishing and has a rich flora has now been closed. Our stretch of river is from the and fauna from kingfishers, grey wagtails, frogs tributaries and source in Alton, through Bentley and and newts, brown trout, miller’s thumb, freshwater to the confluence with the southern Wey shrimps, mayfly and damselfly nymphs, water at Tilford. snails, freshwater mussels, waterside plants and the Further details special Stream Water Crow-foot of chalk streams. The newsletter of the Northern Wey Trust can be seen Human history The river has been an important in the library at Alton and Farnham. part of the life of people living in its corridor for Subscriptions centuries exploiting the water resource and its Adults £5 Family £10 Corporate £25 energy to power mills as well as washing away waste. Treasurer / Membership Secretary: Built evidence including mill buildings, mill ponds, Jacqueline Martin, weirs, river bridges and water meadows abounds 15 Finches Green, Alton, Hants GU34 2JU backed up by documentary evidence. Humans have introduced animals and plants that often cause Cheques payable to: problems today. The Northern Wey Trust Guide book Information is being gathered and walk-outs done for a guide book to the river as much of it is accessible by public footpath. Planning applications Are examined by the I wish to become a Friend of Northern Wey and committee and commented on as they might enclose my subscription for the forthcoming year. affect the river. Family subscription £10 Other groups The NWT works with other groups Adult subscription £5 Corporate £25 and societies in the area and sometimes holds joint field meetings. Name: Address: Come and join us! Telephone: www.northernweytrust.org.uk email: The Northern Wey Trust Come and join us Why join? “The finest ten miles in .” Rivers are a local amenity that many people enjoy Arthur Young and when they dry up, become polluted or full of litter, (travel writer 1741 – 1820) residents in the area soon express concern. Rivers therefore need friends on the spot to keep an eye on their health and raise the alert to any problems. They suffer many threats from the human Crondall species; from pollution, litter, over-exploitation of Long Sutton ground water, unsympathetic development in river Farnham northern Wey corridors and water engineering. ‘Mute Swans B3001 Education of the public to understand and respect in the river’ our rivers is important and at the same time can B3349 bring greater interest in enjoying them as well as Lower Bentley B3384 the opportunity to be involved in hands-on work A287 out-of-doors. The more members the Northern northern Wey A31 Tilford Wey Trust has, the more we can do. Upper Froyle Millbridge Help to care for and enjoy our local river. ‘Ruins of Source ’ of Wey A325 Alton

‘A picnic on the Wey’ southern Wey Kingsley B3004 East Caker Stream A32 B3006 Headley

Bridge over Caker Stream, Alton Did you know? The northern Wey once powered twelve mills between Alton and Farnham. Cover photo: Stream Water Crow-foot in flower Searching for The Miller’s Thumb or Bullhead fish, found freshwater mussels with the in the Wey, is of international importance Conchological Society for conservation.