Our work protecting chalk rivers could not be done without the support of an army of volunteers and a host of partner organisations. Here, Peter White, gives us a flavour of the work and what it feels like to be involved in river restoration work across the region.

“Since 2019 I’ve been involved in several practical sessions as a Living Rivers volunteer to restore a more natural feel to sections of rivers where past widening, straightening or dredging has stripped them of the variations in depth and flow that are so valuable as habitats.

This means working in the river, placing large logs or bundles of cut material into the channel to create brash build-outs or areas of large woody debris (simulating fallen trees) that reintroduces those variations in the flow. These are fixed in place by ramming posts into the river bed, then securing the material to them with (minimal!) wire and staples. Areas of clear gravel develop where the water flows faster, and nooks and crannies in the slower sections provide shelter for fish and invertebrates and let plants take hold and re-establish. Often these sessions are run with local community involvement to help them get to love their river and demonstrate the importance of rivers being less ‘tidy’.  It can be physically hard work, but it’s good fun and very rewarding.

Other volunteer sessions have focused on invasive species control – especially Himalayan Balsam. Hand-pulling this plant is the most effective way of kerbing its spread and is an easy introduction for those who’ve never volunteered before.

By volunteering by, or in, the river, I get a real sense of doing something worthwhile. As soon as a brash build out or flow deflector is finished, you almost instantly see the effect it has as a clear gravel riverbed magically appears from the silt. Balsam ‘bashing’ is one of those things where, at the start of the day you think to yourself ‘We’ll never clear all that’… but then look back round at the end when it has been pulled and say ‘wow – we did!’. Every one of us is still a child at heart – what can beat putting your wellies on and splashing about in the river and having a bit of fun, while helping the planet at the same time? It’s great for the mind and body too – far better staring at the walls of a gym.

Larger-scale projects are done by contractors but I and fellow volunteers are often involved with these too, for example, planting up waterside vegetation on the reprofiled banks, such as on the River Ash in the east of the county.

As well as with HMWT, I’ve been volunteering with HCC’s countryside management service since 1987, and with other local river groups since 2013.”

If, like Peter, you would like to contribute to the health of your local river, visit our Living Rivers Volunteer Opportunities webpage and find out about the different roles you can apply for.