Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust celebrated the first Herts Rivers Week, last week, from 30 May to 8 June, with a series of events showcasing just how important and precious Hertfordshire’s globally rare chalk rivers are.

Many of the events attracted a new generation of future conservationists, with children taking part in the newly launched Chalk Stream Challenge at Panshanger Park, owned by Tarmac, stream dipping sessions at Stanborough Park and a Chalk Stream Explorer event at Waterford Marsh, which was also attended by the High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, Nicholas Buxton. 

The young and the young at heart enjoyed exploring Kings Meads nature reserve with a family walk around the meads spotting dragonflies and other wildlife, whilst those with artistic interests took part in an online session learning to draw one of our chalk rivers most colourful inhabitants, the Kingfisher. The wildlife charity also hosted two informative online talks, the first to highlight the living rivers of Hertfordshire, and the second with a specific focus on how invasive plants affect Hertfordshire’s waterways and what can be done to minimise their impact.

As well as giving Herts Rivers Week a fun and educational slant, the Trust focused its attention on lobbying MPs to call for greater protection for chalk rivers through the #SaveOurChalkStreams campaign, in partnership with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and other Wildlife Trusts. On 4 June, the Trust’s Rivers Officer, Nicola Thompson, attended a MPs drop-in session on chalk rivers at the Houses of Parliament, and on 5 June, the Trust’s Conservation Manager, Tim Hill and River Catchment Coordinator, Sarah Perry, met with Chris Hinchliff MP for North East Herts, at Buntingford, to discuss the urgent challenges Hertfordshire’s chalk rivers face - the MP has led a cross-party calling for amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to safeguard the future of chalk streams.

Kate Sheard, Wilder Communities Officer says,

“The first Herts Rivers Week gave us a great opportunity to put chalk rivers and the wildlife that inhabits these globally rare habitats in the spotlight. It was fantastic to see so many people exploring our rivers and learning how they can play a part in protecting them.”

Sarah Perry, River Catchment Coordinator at Herts and Middlesex Trust says,

“The platform of Herts Rivers Week saw us engage with local dignitaries, decision makers and policy influencers to talk about the value of our chalk rivers and the urgent challenges these unique habitats face. As a result of this focus, we’ve strengthened our position on calling for better protections for our chalk rivers and it’s gratifying to know that some of those in a position of power are listening and trying to take action.”

There are only 260 chalk streams in the world, and Hertfordshire and Middlesex is home to 10% of this global resource. These unique river systems are incredibly rare, and support some of our most vulnerable species, including the critically endangered Water Vole, wild Brown Trout, and Kingfisher.

Herts Rivers Week was made possible due to funding from the Government's Species Survival Fund with support from the Environment Agency, CaSTCo and Affinity Water.

To add your support for chalk rivers, sign the ‘Don’t abandon the Chalk Stream Recovery pack’ petition to call for greater protection at petition.parliament.uk/petitions/711368