SPRING 2019 40

Action for the River Kennet River talk A PARTNERSHIP OF PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THE KENNET

Lambourn dredging incident Our winterbournes are fragile assets that deserve better than this.

What to do if you spot a pollution incident on the river...

Pollution in the river should be reported to both the Environment Agency and Thames Water. If you are sure that something is wrong, be firm and ask for a reference number.

The Environment Agency (0800 807060) will ask questions to assess the incident impacts and may attend – note the NIRS reference number.

Thames Water (0800 316 980) will respond in person within two hours if they suspect that pollution is coming from one of their assets. Please select option 2. In December, approximately 80m following day and were filmed by of the bed of the River Lambourn at our farm advisor. If you are a Riverfly Monitor and East Garston was dug up using an you have a ‘trigger level’ breach (a excavator. The River Lambourn is a The damage is not limited to these score of below 5) follow the Riverfly winterbourne and the whole river is 80m but also threatens the stretch protocol: designated a Site of Special Scientific of the river downstream from the Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area dredging. When the stream starts to • Re-sample (this eliminates the chance of a rogue sample) of Conservation (SAC), giving it the flow again the loose, muddy bed and • If the score is again below the highest level of legal environmental banks will wash downstream to clog trigger level call Anna Forbes protection. the clear gravel beds below. (ARK Riverfly Co-ordinator) immediately on 07780381709. The Environment Agency responded We are expecting the Environment She will report the incident and to reports of illegal activity and Agency to prosecute. liaise directly with our EA Riverfly instructed the operators to stop. Contact. Shockingly they resumed the Charlotte Hitchmough Action for River Kennet Newsletter 40 SPRING 2019 PAGE 2

News from the Chairman New laws for a healthier landscape.

Seventy years ago the National sustainable – a healthier environment Parks and Access to the Countryside underpinning a healthier society and Of even greater interest to ARK will Act received Royal Assent. The Act a stronger economy. be the bill’s insistence on better provided the framework for the management of our surface, ground creation of National Parks and Areas The mechanism for paying land and waste water. If we use the 25 Year of Outstanding Natural Beauty managers to work the land in a more Environment Plan as a guide to what in England and Wales and other environmentally positive way will be might be in the Environment Bill we mechanisms to conserve natural known as the Environmental Land can not only hope to see measures beauty. It also allowed for the Management System (ELMS) and to reduce abstraction but also recording, maintenance and creation the government is currently working opportunities to connect the Kennet of public rights of way. It received with farmers to design, develop and with its flood plain thus creating cross-party support as part of the trial the new approach. ELMS will be more wetlands. ARK will keep a close post-war reconstruction of Britain. rolled-out from next year. eye on what emerges. Three years after the National Health Service Act the British government I hope this means that ARK can in the Before I finish, I should remind you was legislating to protect our future work even more closely with that, even though it is the Chinese beautiful countryside and formalising farmers and other land managers to year of the pig, in England it is how the public should gain access realise our aspiration for the River definitely a Yoga year. No, not the to it. Kennet. body-bending spirit-reaffirming contortion kind, but the Year of It was this act that led directly to the The other piece of legislation is a new Green Action – YOGA (# Year of Green rights of way network that we all use Environment Bill. It is over 20 years Action and # I Will). So, to all ARK to explore the beautiful Kennet Valley since there was an act of parliament volunteers get out and do some Yoga and the Area of Outstanding Natural dedicated to the environment. on the River Kennet – and thank you Beauty through which the River This bill is at an earlier stage in its for all your efforts. Kennet flows. development than the Agriculture Bill but its main purpose will be to Richard Clarke Today, new pieces of legislation are maintain environmental standards passing through parliament that as the UK leaves the EU. It thus may, in their own way, turn out to seeks to build on the vision of the be equally momentous. Firstly, an 25 Year Environment Plan published Agriculture Bill will insist that farmers last year, when the Prime Minister Membership and other land managers must only pledged to ‘leave the environment be paid public money where they in a better state than we found it’. A gentle reminder that provide ‘public goods’. As we depart Once passed by parliament it will membership renewals are from the Common Agriculture Policy turn that policy aspiration into a due on 1 April, £20 for there will be a move away from statutory requirement enforced by an individual or £30 for a paying subsidies for production a new regulator called the Office family membership. For and towards payments for positive for Environmental Protection (new more details please contact environmental management. This acronym alert: OEP). [email protected] significant change will hopefully lead to land management that is properly Action for River Kennet Newsletter 40 SPRING 2019 PAGE 3

Wonderful Winterbournes The powerhouse of our chalkstreams.

As the waters recede during the summer, the adults and newly hatched juveniles move downstream.

Other species have adapted to living in the same part of the river regardless of the state of flow. For instance, some specialist stonefly and mayfly nymphs are only found in the winterbournes and some beetles have evolved to inhabit river sediments which experience repeated inundation.

There is a clear succession of plant communities growing in these ‘sometimes wet’ rivers. Terrestrial grass gives way to marsh A defining characteristic of chalk parts of the foxtail, followed by rapidly growing streams is the winterbourne section river which flow annuals like water speedwell and – the part of the river that only flows intermittently have a greater watercress, until the perennial when groundwater is high. On the biodiversity than constantly flowing river begins and different plant Kennet they reach all the way across reaches. Even the ‘scum’ on the communities, dominated by stream the Marlborough Downs to Avebury, bottom of a dry river is a diverse algal water crowfoot and starwort, take Winterbourne Bassett and beyond. community. over. The terrestrial plants and herbs The upper reaches of the Kennet’s that dominate the river in its dry tributaries including the Lambourn The winterbournes naturally phase provide habitat for pollinating and the Og are classic winterbournes transition between flowing, pool and insects, enhancing the productivity of and their place names reflect the dry states, creating aquatic–terrestrial nearby arable land. ephemeral pattern of flow (eg habitat mosaics that change in space Lambourn – from ‘lamb’ and ‘bourne’, and time. They support a diversity The winterbournes are the because the river mainly flows in of species depending on how powerhouse of our chalkstreams. the Spring during lambing season). much water is present – effectively The moment they start to flow Although the cycle is predictable treating the river as a ‘time-share’. water species colonise and drift there is natural variability; in a dry For example during the pool phase downstream to supply the whole year some winterbourne sections specialists like caddisfly larvae, river system with new organisms; might not flow at all, and in a wet usually restricted to floodplain ponds, the moment they dry they become year they may flow almost all move into the temporary pools in an entirely new habitat. They are year round. the river. As those pools dry up mud an essential part of the landscape beetles arrive to graze on the rotting we live in, so let’s cherish those dry Dry winterbournes look more like algal material left behind. Brown stream beds and treat them with the a path or a track than a river, but Trout have adapted to swim to the respect they deserve. don’t be deceived; they are a hive upper reaches of the winterbournes of ecological activity and are some during high winter flows, where Charlotte Hitchmough of the most biodiverse zones in our they can find clean gravel and less river system. Research shows that competition for spawning sites. Action for River Kennet Newsletter 40 SPRING 2019 PAGE 4

Volunteering Whether it is a public or private stretch of river, our volunteers play a vital role.

one. As a Rivers Trust we are in the river a lot but if you prefer dry land there are plenty of tasks that don’t involve getting wet, from our Yellow Fish awareness-raising campaign to making faggots or packing our newsletters.

Monitoring is another important aspect of what we do and where volunteers are key. Our riverfly hub is one of the most successful and established in the UK, with 62 active sites on the Kennet and its tributaries regularly monitored for pollution by trained volunteers.

Over winter we have a team of trained ARK Redd Spotters – volunteers who walk the riverbank during the brown trout spawning season and log down the trout As well as enabling us to deliver We currently have 170+ volunteers nests. And this summer we will once practical river restoration to a high on our database, from teenagers again be targeting the non-native standard but at a reduced cost, they working for their Duke of Edinburgh plant Himayalan balsam – the more help us with engaging and expanding awards to retired people in their volunteers helping to remove this the knowledge of the community. 80s, and all the decades in between. invasive species (see the article on There’s often more than one task page 5) the better. All our volunteering tasks are on offer every week (including professionally led; we get local people Saturdays), and they are at different We welcome fair-weather volunteers, into waders and they learn what we locations within the Kennet weekly volunteers, those who we are doing, how to do it and why – and Catchment. might see just a few times a year. The then they ‘get it’ and are rewarded joy of being a volunteer is you choose by having played a part in the To be an ARK volunteer you don’t what you want to volunteer for, for transformation (which is often need any experience – we help you how long and how often! very quick). develop the necessary skills from day Each year the thousands of hours given freely by our volunteers is amazing and indispensable! We have As relatively new residents in Froxfield, Steve and I feel another busy year upon us so if you privileged to be involved in helping to restore the water fancy learning new skills, meeting meadow. Even though it was cold and damp, the team like-minded people and helping your spirit amongst your lovely volunteers was just amazing. rivers and surrounding habitats email We really enjoyed helping to create the new banks in [email protected], martin.kent@ the stream and can’t wait to see the end result, once all the riverkennet.org or visit our website planting is done. We were so pleased this week to spot a kingfisher, and www.riverkennet.org and look at hope that many more species will be making it their home in the months Events and Join In. and years to come – thanks to the work of ARK!” Anna Forbes Sarah Owens, Froxfield Parish Clerk,who has been volunteering with her husband to restore the Froxfield stream. Action for River Kennet Newsletter 40 SPRING 2019 PAGE 5

Himalayan Balsam Stitchcombe The purple invader that must be contained. Fish Pass

Another helping hand from ARK for the Kennet’s fish.

First recorded in the wild in 1855 rooted Balsam dies back over the Before Christmas we completed the following its introduction as a garden winter period. long-awaited fish pass at Stitchcombe ornamental in 1839, Himalayan Mill. Working in partnership the balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is an Control methods can be physical or Environment Agency and the River annual plant native to the west and chemical; physical removal should be Keeper, and using local contractors, central Himalayas. regular and ideally completed before we have built a new channel which flowering in June, thereby preventing allows fish to bypass the sluices that Regarded as the UK’s tallest annual the plant from setting seed. Because feed into the weir pool. The new pass plant, it can grow to 2.5 to 3m and is their roots are shallow, plants can be will mean that fish can swim up and characterised by its scented pink- pulled by hand, although strimming down the river whatever the state of purple trumpet-shaped flowers, may be quicker for larger areas flow, avoiding the obstacle that the lance-shaped leaves and hollow, provided it is completed regularly to sluice structure creates for them. fleshy stems that turn from green to prevent flowering. As long as they pinkish red as summer progresses. haven’t set seed, any removed plants The new fish-pass incorporates an can be composted without the need innovative design by Darryl Clifton Known as ‘Touch-me-not balsam’ on for burning. Dey. Rather than using conventional account of its explosive seed capsules horizontal stop logs or a letterbox that can distribute seeds up to 4m, it From 25 March you can report your arrangement the fish-pass channel is now widespread along our rivers, own balsam sightings using our entrance is controlled by a structure lakes and streams because of its new tracker app for Android or that can be made wider or narrower ability to colonise both upstream and iPhone. Just search for Epicollect5 as required to control the flow. The downstream. It then forms dense in your app store and select the ARK reason is to benefit species like thickets that left unchecked reduce Himalayan Balsam option. We will use bullead and stoneloach, which are biodiversity by smothering and your reported sightings to plan our present in the river but struggle to outcompeting native plants for space, summer Balsam removal programme. navigate over horizontal obstacles. light, nutrients and pollinators. For more information regarding The new channel that has been In riparian areas the loss of these Himalayan balsam and other invasive created has the added benefit of perennial native species in turn non-native species visit the GB Non offering new spawning habitat for reduces the abundance and diversity Native Species Secretariat at: fish and new bankside habitat for of the invertebrates that depend on www.nonnativespecies.org/home/ water vole. them. It also decreases soil stability index.cfm and leads to increased riverbank Charlotte Hitchmough erosion because the shallow- Martin Kent Action for River Kennet Newsletter 40 SPRING 2019 PAGE 6

Things Are St Nicholas Primary Happening in Froxfield! School, Baydon ARK has been working with St Nicholas Primary School to Local residents have create something really special. stepped into waders and rolled up their sleeves to help restore their stream.

Over the last two months our professionally led Community River Restoration Days have been a huge success. Our regular volunteers have been working alongside the Parish Council and other villagers, learning about their chalk stream and what it needs to be healthy.

Locally coppiced hazel on Freeman’s Marsh has been made into faggots (bundles of branches) that we pin We have together created an It is a pleasure to have continued into the river to create a more natural exceptional space for rain water our relationship with St Nicholas and and sinuous riverbank. to slowly infiltrate the ground and we are currently running our Trout recharge the aquifer. This reduces in School project with their Year 3/4 In May a Community Planting Day sediment and storm water runoff class. By nurturing tiny baby trout in will establish a corridor of native flowing into the Kennet. a tank the children are learning how marginal plants that send out roots sensitive these fish are and what they and rhizomes that hold the riverbank Plants have been chosen that need in the river to survive. together, prevent erosion and can cope with long dry periods provide a rich habitat for a variety of and sudden downpours while a The project lasts for three months wildlife. bridge and large water-play trough and over that time the class are make the space a fun place for the witnessing at first hand the stages What’s more, our Yellow Fish students. The trough gets its water of the brown trout life cycle and campaign has hit the village. from an enormous water butt that is discovering how amazing chalk Chairman of the Parish Council Pat connected to a guttering downpipe. streams and rivers are. We also Adams said, ‘The Yellow Fish project incorporate the importance of being is a great reminder for us. So many The project is all about getting Water Smart into our activities – the people I have spoken to had no idea students, teachers and parents to less water we all use the more that that these drains went straight into think about water and how we use it is left for the chalk stream and their our rivers and streams’. and deal with it. trout.

Chemicals, paint, cigarette butts, Once again gold-award-winning Our Rainscapes project is a finalist for litter and dog poo all cause pollution garden designer Wendy Allen has Conservation Project of the Year in to rivers. Gluing Yellow Fish plaques conjured up a garden full of SuDS the Wiltshire Life Awards, so fingers next to drains and leafleting local (Sustainable Urban Drainage Scheme) crossed! homes has raised awareness that it features and brought it to life with the should be Only Rain Down the Drain. help of our volunteer team, parents Anna Forbes and a small corporate volunteer team Anna Forbes from Travelport. Action for River Kennet Newsletter 40 SPRING 2019 PAGE 7

The New Green Stonebridge Annual Review Revolution Stonebridge Meadow on the eastern outskirts of Marlborough is jointly owned by ARK and Marlborough Town Cover crops are the route to healthier soils and a cleaner Council. The way it is managed is set river. out in the Stonebridge Management Nitrate leaching under 3 cover crops Plan, which explains the overarching and a control 07/02/16 principles, along with more detailed 25 actions. To ensure that the process is transparent Marlborough Town 19.9675 Council and ARK hold an annual 20 review, open to the public. This took place on 23 January, and we were 15 delighted to welcome naturalist Peter

Mg NO² Marren who spoke enthusiastically about how lucky we are to have open 10 access to chalk stream and meadow within walking distance of the town 5 centre, and what a welcome breathing 1.448 space it offers for people and wildlife 0.172 0.3525 alike. 0 Oil Radish Stubble Oats & Vetch Linseed & Clover Over the coming months we will be exploring whether it is possible to Cover crops are planted after the main captured nutrients until the following build a second footbridge to create a harvest to reduce winter soil erosion, year. circular walk from the north and south improve soil quality and encourage bank. biodiversity. Some arable farmers in Choosing cover crops appropriate to the Kennet catchment have now been the following spring-sown crop allows The Stonebridge Management Plan is growing them for six years, knowing the farmer to cut back on nitrogen available on ARK’s website. that the benefits are always going and other fertiliser applications with to be long-term; those that expect confidence. For example, a green, Charlotte Hitchmough yield boosts and nitrogen savings in leafy cover crop may work best if the first year will be disappointed. the following crop is spring barley, As we learn more about cover crops, which does most of its growing in we are expecting year six to provide an eight-week period from April to noticeable increases in the water- June. Sugar beet or maize, however, holding capacity, friability, drought are still growing in September so the tolerance and general health of soils. preceding cover crop should ideally be slightly more fibrous and less green And we are also beginning to and leafy. As an American field trials understand more about when and scientist puts it, ‘Its like trying to time a how the cover crops return the meal to come out of the oven exactly nutrients that they have captured to when the hungry dinner guests arrive’. the following cash crop. Green, leafy cover crops break down quickly when Tim Clarke A Snipe was recently spotted at the soil temperature rises in the spring Stonebridge Wild River Reserve during and may return nitrogen, phosphorus Graph: The concentration of unused the snow. Winter visitors to the south of and potassium back into the system in nitrate 1 metre below three different the UK, Snipe frequent well-vegetated a matter of a few weeks. On the other cover crops and a control of bare wheat marsh and wetland areas and are very hand, woody, fibrous cover crops that stubble. With cover crops the water hard to spot due to their amazing contain a lot of lignin break down leaches down, but the nitrates don’t! plumage. more slowly and may not release their Action for River Kennet Newsletter 40 SPRING 2019 PAGE 8

ARK People Dates for Your Diary Karen Davies Saturday & Sunday 11–12 May We will be at The Sportfish Show, Reading. A packed weekend of seminars, demonstrations and a chance to try For 16 years I have worked with out tackle from all the leading manufacturers. Visit farmers and landowners in the Kennet www.sportfish.co.uk/reading-show for more information. Catchment. As a Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer my main focus is Tuesday 23 April on improving water quality in the Our Big River Clean (part of The Great British Spring Clean) Kennet and Lambourn by encouraging at Fobney, Reading is open to anyone who would like to get voluntary measures on farms to reduce involved and has a few hours to spare. sediment, phosphate and nitrate loss Contact [email protected] for more details. from fields and yards. Pat Adams Saturday 15 June River keeper Rob Starr leads a 2.5 mile early morning Dawn Chorus Walk and bird-ringing demonstration in partnership I have lived in Froxfield, with my with Hungerford Town and Manor. Meet in the Fisherman’s husband Barry since 2005. I’ve been on Car Park, Denford at 5.45am for a 6.00am start – but with the the Parish Council for 10 years and am prospect of breakfast at a local establishment for those who passionate about our lovely village. I want it. Advanced booking essential. am so pleased that we have been able Contact [email protected] to progress plans to develop our water meadow into an area of natural beauty. Sunday 7 September Working on the river I have learnt so ARK members Summer River Walk at the beautiful and much about our environment and how usually private Barton Court Estate, Kintbury. More details will important it is that we look after these be circulated closer to the date. This is a new location for the precious places. walk, so an opportunity not to be missed. Matthew Walker For more details on all these events see our website or I’m a Project Co-ordinator in Thames contact [email protected] Water’s water efficiency team. I really enjoy using my knowledge of conservation to work with ARK to highlight how water use impacts the Websites Worth Visiting environment. I grew up among the chalk streams and winterbournes of The National River Dorset (or winterborne as they often Flow Archive (NRFA) spell it down there) as well as living on is the UK’s focal point a boat for five years, so water is close for river flow data. to my heart! The NRFA collates, quality controls, and archives hydrometric data from gauging station networks across the UK including the extensive networks operated by the Environment Agency (England). Learn how you can support ARK every time you shop online just visit: To find out more please visit: https://nrfa.ceh.ac.uk www.easyfundraising.org.uk/arkactionfortheriverkennet

Members of ARK receive a copy of this We hope you have enjoyed this newsletter newsletter either by mail or email. and if you have any comments or ideas for Action for the River Kennet future issues, do please pass them on! Avebury, Elcot Park, Elcot Lane If you’d like to find out more about Marlborough SN8 2BG ARK, volunteering opportunities or membership please visit our website Edited by Rowan Whimster t: 01672 512 700 e: [email protected] at www.riverkennet.org or email ([email protected]) Registered charity number: 1120725 [email protected] Printed on 100% recycled paper