Last week, Herts Rivers Week returned for the second year running, with events taking place across the county to highlight the importance of protecting our globally rare and fragile chalk rivers. 

Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust collaborated with many other Hertfordshire-based organisations and volunteers to celebrate the week. This resulted in a wave of activity and events across the county, enabling a closeup view of our local rivers and the wildlife they are home to. Participants were encouraged to ‘save water’, with the Trust showing the impact simple switches can have on water consumption and, in turn, on our rivers.

• During the half-term week, many children and their families enjoyed river dipping on the River Gade at Cassiobury Park, in Watford and on the River Lea at Stanborough Park in Welwyn Garden City at events run by the Trust’s Wilder Communities team and volunteers.  

• By day, amateur photographers turned pro with a river-themed Smartphone Photography Workshop at Stanborough Park. 

• When night fell, individuals and families were out again at Stanborough Park, this time with infrared binoculars, bat detectors, and red-light torches, spotting nocturnal visitors to the waterside.
• Over 40 people tuned in live to hear the Trust’s Rivers Recovery Manager, Sarah Perry, give an online talk about our local chalk rivers.
• On the River Beane, at Waterford Heath, the Trust’s River Officer, Nicola Thompson, and volunteers were inundated with young people taking on the Chalk River Challenge - they produced some lovely drawings and poems, whilst learning about the river.
• Hertfordshire Libraries organised a river-themed story time at Ware Library. And over at Rickmansworth Library, Chilterns National Landscape ran a chalk stream story time and craft session.
• Watford Council and Groundwork East encouraged residents to explore the River Colne, its history and importance using the TrailTale app. 

• Volunteers from the River Hiz Conservation Group collected 12 bags of refuse from their river clean-up in Cadwell Lane, Hitchin.
• Countryside & Rights of Way Service volunteers donned their waders at South Mimms to tackle Himalayan Balsam – an invasive species which impacts native fauna and weakens riverbanks.
• The Riverwatch Group in Buntingford gave visitors a chance to be a Riverfly Monitor for the day at Layston Gardens and discover the creatures living in the river.
• East Herts Council and Jade Dawn Designs welcomed visitors to walk the stretch of towpath between Ware and Hertford for the official opening of the River Lea Art Trail, where they could admire beautifully decorated benches, designed by local artists.
• Friends of Castle Park in Bishops Stortford set up a drop-in for the community to discover the wildlife living in the River Stort, with live minibeasts caught from the riverbed. The group highlighted the work that is being done to conserve the chalk stream.
• The Chalk Stream River Project encouraged budding citizen scientists to be a part of their River Chess Nutrient Survey Day and collect water samples.  

• Josh Dean, MP for Hertford and Stortford met with the Trust’s Sarah Perry for a walk along the River Lea in Hertford to talk about the Trust’s work, the need to save water and what’s needed from government policy to give our local rivers – and especially chalk rivers – the protection they need. 

   

Kate Sheard, Wilder Communities Officer at Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, says, 

“It’s been great to see how many people we reached this year through Herts Rivers Week. We are thankful for all the support we have received from the community, our volunteers, and the many organisations who came together with us to celebrate our chalk rivers.  

“At the stream dipping sessions, there was great enthusiasm from not only children but adults alike. Many families commented on how much they enjoyed them and how fantastic it was that the children could discover the creatures that lived in the chalk stream. It’s heartening to see the joy on people’s faces and the wonder in children’s eyes at these events, and it serves as a reminder of why we need to ensure that future generations can experience this too. My hope is that we’ve inspired participants to introduce new water-saving habits into their everyday lives now they know what is at stake.”

Sarah Perry, Rivers Recovery Manager says, 

“The events of Herts Rivers Week provided great fun for many people, but it also prompted a week of action on our rivers, with many volunteers giving up their time to improve the condition of their local stretch of river.  

“Another angle of the week was that it gave me the opportunity to meet with Josh Dean, the MP for Hertford and Stortford and to discuss our work. This enabled me to impress that we are calling on the Government to strengthen the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) by adding chalk streams to the list of irreplaceable habitats. I directly linked this to the need for our communities in Hertfordshire to access clean, safe plentiful water. We had some discussion around planning and housing growth, and the need for spatial plans to consider impacts to our rivers as a severely water stressed region. Our ask to Government is to mandate water efficient housing in the new NPPF. I also explained to Josh how we are encouraging individuals to demand healthier rivers through the Clean Water Now campaign. I’m pleased to say it was a positive discussion, and I was encouraged to hear how he is pushing for Thames Water to clean up the Sewage Treatment Works near Stanstead Airport, which is a significant source of pollution to the River Stort. I hope we can now have an ongoing dialogue and that Josh can champion better protection for our chalk rivers in the House of Parliament.”

Chalk rivers are globally unique ecosystems. Around 85% of the world’s supply is found in England, and Hertfordshire and Middlesex are home to 10% of this global resource. Locally, they support some of our most beloved wildlife, including Kingfishers, Water Voles, and wild Brown Trout. These rivers depend on consistent groundwater flows, yet they are increasingly under pressure from too much water being taken from them, prolonged dry conditions and a growing population. Hertfordshire sits within an area classified as seriously water stressed, and these pressures are intensified by water usage in the region, with the average person using 154 litres a day, compared to the national average of 137. 

During drought periods, river flows can drop dramatically, with some chalk streams reduced to a trickle. In 2024, The Wildlife Trusts report ‘Embracing Nature’ cited drought as the current leading threat to their nature reserves for the first time. In recent years, local rivers have run dry. These have encompassed most of the chalk river tributaries of the Lea Catchment, the largest catchment in Hertfordshire, including the Mimram, Rib, Quin, Beane, and Ash, reduced by 50% off their natural length in 2019, 2021, and at low flows in summer 2024. 

To learn more about the Trust’s work on local rivers, visit hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/living-rivers and to be kept up-to-date with our latest developments, sign up for e-news.