Talking point last month was the dry spring.  May’s slight rainfall in the catchment was patchy, ranging from less than a millimetre in Chalfont St Peter to 26mm near Wendover leaving the debate about “driest ever” still unresolved.  Anyway all that seems behind us now and recent rains should be reducing the soil moisture deficit.  Meanwhile our stream continues to flow well from top to bottom.  The graphs below shows groundwater levels along the river in comparison with highs, lows and averages of the past 33years and, for instance, how those at Quarrendon Mill compare with other wet periods.

We were privileged to be invited to join a Chess Catchment Farmers Cluster meeting and hear an inspiring and impressive talk byTeresa Dent CBE.  Teresa has been championing conservation measures with farmers nationwide for many years at grass-roots and government levels, with considerable success.  In later discussion at the bar with some of those present, it seemed to be generally agreed that the group already has substantial connections within the Misbourne catchment.   Any way forward to similar initiatives along the Misbourne would be by extending rather than duplicating the existing programmes.

The Chiltern Society hosted an event last week with brief reports presented for each of the Chilterns chalk streams setting out high and lows of the past year and priorities moving forward.  These were followed by presentations and Q & A on the future programme for the Chilterns Chalk Stream Project , including more discussion of the “Mending the Misbourne” programme. This last has clearly articulated priorities of a) mitigation of sewage pollution where significant work is already in hand, b) river restorations including downstream of Amersham by-pass to below Quarrendon Mill,  c) mitigation of pollution from road run-off and d) further development of our Citizen Science programme and community engagement.  However, as always, substantial progress relies on success from outstanding funding application(s).

The Chalfonts Parish Council’s Flood Working Group met and received reports on project progress from Thameswater and Project Groundwater.

Coming up soon and needing your support we have:

• Chalfont St Peter Feast Day “Fringe” event “CSP’s Wild Side” on Saturday 21st June in the Jubilee Garden 10.00am – 4.00pm.  MRA will be exhibiting alongside a forest school, mini beast and wild flower hunts, Project Groundwater and more.
• Chalfont St Peter Feast Day on Saturday 28th June on Goldhill Common.  Hoping to see lots of you to chat at this great family event and seeking volunteers to help talk about what we do to visitors to the stand for a while.
• Evenings with Chalfont St Giles Cub Scouts on Monday 30th June and Thursday 1st July.  Volunteers needed to help the scouts find how many bathfuls per minute flow under the footbridge and other challenges.  Please let me know if you can help on one or both days.

Conversation at our last “not-a-meeting” was unfortunately largely drowned out by Tottenham vs Man Utd in the Europa League.  We are doing our best to ensure things are much better when we meet next Thursday 19th from 7.15pm at The Greyhound.  As all above, there’s plenty to catch up on and lots happening so look forward to seeing you there.