I’m conscious that, deliberately or otherwise, some of you find my pearls have dropped into your “junk” box. As a quick gauge of our readership, I would be really grateful if you could just tap “reply” to this one to let us know it has been received – comments optional!!

Our several small work parties lately were rewarded by a delightful stream from above Chalfont St Peter tennis courts past the allotment bridge and even a persistent trickle past The Greyhound and the ford, briefly augmented by inflow from the “backstream”. Upstream, good flows continued from as far up the valley as the grounds of Missenden Abbey all the way to the fields below Chalfont St Giles where it still disappears in the overgrown fields. Despite annual and 3 month rainfall, groundwater levels and other indicators being somewhat above average there has been little other change and that flow from Chalfont St Giles still ends well short of joining up with the “lower winterbourne”, and there is little sign of springs near Gerrards Cross Golf Club.

Also delightful were two enjoyable evenings with the very well behaved Chalfont St Giles Cub Scouts where, after some complicated observations and arithmetic, we found that the river was flowing at between 35 and 50 bathtubs per minute. We also observed shrimps, bloodworms and smaller important creatures in the water. Lots of people had lots of reasons for not being able to join the proposed programme to maintain the watercourse through Amersham and Chalfont St Giles so these work days did not go ahead. If enough people let me know they would like to be involved, we can suggest a few more dates. There may also be some invasive species control events in the Missenden area – TBA.

Many thanks to those who have already offered assistance and time for our stand at CstP Feast Day – this Saturday, 24th June. If you can spend a little time on the day to tell prospective volunteers about what we do etc, that will be much appreciated but, in any case, our team will be delighted to see you and hear your comments and suggestions. Also, don’t forget we will be at the National Meadow’s Day event at Boug’s Meadow in Great Missenden on 2 July, also Chiltern Open Air Museum Green Festival on 9th July and Chalfont St Giles Show on 2nd September – all offers of help gratefully received.

Our WhatsApp group continues to expand and is a useful way of sharing latest pictures, matters of interest and, crucially, info on work party availability. If you would like to join and haven’t already, please let me know and make sure I have your mobile phone number.

Aspirations towards “Mending the Misbourne” continue. Affinity Water are considering opportunities and we have sought to involve them, Chiltern Society and Chilterns Conservation Board in matters of immediate concern, including review of leakage near Quarrendon Mill and the losses downstream of Chalfont St Giles. Preparation for the Nature Reserve beside the river at Chalfont St Peter is going well with some archaeological detectoring already undertaken and signs of the old swimming pool uncovered.

My phrase “not-a meeting” seems to have lost its meaning! We will have an informal meeting at The Greyhound on Wednesday 12th July 7.15pm with an aim of agreeing some dates and activities for July thru September, welcoming and introducing new comers and generally reviewing our mission. All welcome, including supporters from the bank as well as frequent volunteers.