A good month! As noted last time, a big effort was going to be required to properly clear the blocked and overgrown watercourse all the way from CSt Giles to Water Hall on the outskirts of C St Peter. We are delighted to report “mission accomplished”, after three tough work parties, There is now unimpeded through flow for the first time since operations were disrupted by lockdown. More: further efforts in Old Amersham have almost completed the reach from the church through to “Ambers” Mill by Station Road. Also, a squad of Chiltern Society volunteers has made a start at Bottom House Farm and, hopefully, will continue in November.
Meanwhile, Affinity Water have completed two improvement projects in Amersham at Barn Meadow and Pondwick Meadow and we have added two more Invertebrate monitoring sites that should confirm quality benefits. While progress is slow and there is much competition for funds across the region, we continue to press for commitments within the next Water Asset Management Programme – AMP8: 2025 – 2030 beyond the already “guaranteed” modest reduction in abstraction at Amersham in 2024. Recent activities have included an excellent webinar hosted by Thames Water on short and long term plans for achieving substantial ecological benefits while ensuring water supply through the next 50 years. Also, with Chiltern Society, Chiltern Chalk Streams Project and Colne Catchment Network, an initial “meeting about a meeting” to put some more bones on various ideas on the theme of “Mending the Misbourne”.
By the way, slides from the ColneCAN conference mentioned last month can be seen here and give some idea as to how recent work on the Chess catchment may be viewed as a pilot for other sub-catchments of the Colne – itself a catchment within the Thames region. If nothing else, they indicate how much work is being done by many people on various initiatives to cherish our rivers. And as another aside, I commend Affinity Water’s SOS (Save Our Streams) initiative to you.
Chalfont St Peter Parish Council has taken possession of the site for the new Nature Reserve on the banks of the Misbourne and preparatory work will commence shortly.
We have two loose ends to complete to be in good shape for the continuing winter recharge of the aquifer and, hopefully, resumption of flow through CSt Peter before too long. In Old Amersham, we will aim to complete the last 60 metres behind the Tesco Carpark next Wednesday 1st November afternoon. And we will clear the second half of the section from Mill Lane to Chalfont St Giles on Saturday 4th November morning. Please let me know if you can help us with either or both.
We will have our final informal “not a meeting” for the year – i.e. a drink and a chat about any of the above or other – on Wednesday 15th November from 7.15 at The Greyhound – all very welcome, whether old hands or newly on board.
And, perhaps most importantly of all, a reminder that our 16th Annual Dinner is on Wednesday 13th December – as usual an informal, I hope fun, and not especially fluvial evening for all. I’m really looking forward to hearing by 15th November that you (and partner/friend) can join us.
Assuming you are one of those who wishes to continue to receive these missives, please add my email address to your contacts: otherwise my pearls are likely to end up in your Junk box. And why not join the WhatsApp group? – It has been alive with all sorts of updates and pictures recently!
Recent quotes:
“its just so satisfying to do this”
“I really enjoy the work parties and I can just help on the ones now and again when I’m free”
“There aren’t really any other chances to play in the river when you’re grown up!”
“it’s fun!”
