Sussex Wetland Conference: Nigel Holmes

Chalk Streams of Sussex: Recognition, Protection &

Enhancement

Nigel Holmes & Fran Southgate: January 2012

Planned Coverage•What are chalk streams?•Characteristics and Natural Variation•What do they typically look like?•Sussex chalk rivers – resource and distribution•What do Sussex chalk streams look like?•Anything special about them?•PROTECTION REQUIRED.•REHABILITATION REQUIRED•Examples of chalk stream rehabilitation

What are chalk streams? Official ‘BAP’ National Resource

Reflects Chalk Geology

Ems & Lavant only Sussex ones identified

Perennial Chalk Rivers

Chalk Geology = V V high BFI = V V Stable Flow

Impervious (Clay) Geology = low BFI = ‘Flashy’ Flow

Non-Chalk Rivers

Mixed Clay/Chalk Geology = high BFI = Stable Flow with Bigger Troughs and Higher Peaks

Mixed Geology with Chalk - Perennial Rivers

Natural Chalk Rivers/Stream often ‘Winterbournes’

NATURALLLY Winterbourne

NATURALLLY Winterbourne

NATURALLLY Winterbourne

NATURALLLY Winterbourne

NATURALLLY Winterbourne

NATURALLLY Winterbourne

NATURALLLY Winterbourne

NATURALLLY Winterbourne

Perennial Chalk Streams - Meon

Perennial Chalk Streams – Lambourn

Perennial Chalk Streams – Kennet

Perennial Chalk Streams – Itchen

Sussex Chalk Streams: Distribution & Resource

Sussex Chalk Streams: Distribution & Resource

Sussex Chalk Streams: Are there more Fran asks!!?

Sussex Chalk Streams: Bosham

Sussex Chalk Streams: Bosham

Sussex Chalk Streams: Bosham

Scarp Streams - Arundel

Scarp Streams – many

woodedbanks and woody debris

features

Scarp Streams - Dynamic

Scarp Streams -

Sutton

Scarp Streams – Special

Character: PROTECT

Some Scarp Streams – V Special

Character: PROTECT

Some Not So Special Character: REHABILITATION

POTENTIAL

Key Quality Parameters

Morphology/Shape/Naturalness

Quality of Water Present

Amount of Water: Target!!

Biological and

other

Interactions

Rehabilitation needed and can be easy

Rehabilitation needed and can be easy:

just move bed materials

around – Undo Historical

‘Flattening’!!!

Rehabilitation needed and can be easy:

just ‘Un-flatten’

Rehabilitation needed and can be easy:

but need help in promotion through keen & pioneering landowners

Rehabilitation needed and can be easy: need

keen & pioneering landowners and

vision

Examples of Rehabilitation

on Small Chalk Streams

Examples of Rehabilitation on Small Chalk Streams

Examples of Rehabilitation on Small Chalk Streams

Examples of Rehabilitation on

Small Chalk Streams

Examples of Rehabilitation on Small Chalk Streams

Examples of Rehabilitation on Small Chalk Streams

Thanks & Keep up the Good Work