A special welcome to a good crop of new supporters added to the circulation in the month; many from meeting on our joint stall with Chiltern Chalk Streams Project (CCSP) team at Denham Country Fayre. Apart from the occasional contact, we haven’t done much downstream of the M25 in the past and it will be good if the “Mending the Misbourne” initiative can lead to quality improvements from attention to run-off from the M25 and other highways, early improvements to Gerrard’s Cross Sewage treatment works to limit discharges, and control of invasive plant species and other gains in that area. In particular, it would be great to see the fence removed at Denham Country Park and river access reinstated. (In my opinion, the decision to close it was always a case of Nanny’s H & S OTT and there is now no reason for it at all).
At the other end of the valley, good work has been going on locating and removing areas of invasive Himalayan Balsam. Alongside our well established regular groundwater levels and Riverfly monitoring along the river, we are now undertaking Smarter Water Catchment Surveys with CCSP. And on the theme of top to bottom, it was a privilege to join the first meeting of the Chess Valley Farmers Cluster since its evolution into the Chess and Misbourne Valley’s Farmers Cluster with farmers from the very top to bottom of the Misbourne attending.
A work party made a very successful start on clearing between Chipstead Farm and Bottom House Farm Lane and will be continuing there on Wednesday 24th June at 10.00am. If you can join us please let me know and we will send detailed info just beforehand. We also anticipate a work party somewhere on Weds 29th July. Quite likely, and hopefully, some local groups may organise some light works through the WhatsApp in the meantime.
With all that’s going on, not least individual summer holidays, our “Not-a-meeting” found it difficult to settle on dates for work parties! We will be on show at the annual Chiltern Society Friends of the chalkstreams event at Redbourn this Thursday, at the opening of the new Misbourne Nature Reserve this Saturday 20th from 11.00 to 3.00 and at the Feast of St Peter on Saturday 27th.
Meanwhile, the river continues to flow well for the time of year – running from near Chiltern Hospital through to the Colne. Groundwater levels at 1st June were still above average through continuing to drift down from the highs of the past two years. Recent downpours are unlikely to have affected the aquifer and hence base flow directly but, by reducing the soil moisture deficit albeit briefly, will have helped reduce demand.
Our next “not-a-meeting” – i.e. informal catch-up, chance to meet new colleagues, etc – will be on Monday July 13th from 7.15pm at Chalfont St Peter Sports Club, SL9 0QA. All Very Welcome! (What3words address = “robots.lime.inform”).
Looking forward to seeing you by or in the river, or at one off the shows, best wishes
PS. “Jabbles” = agitation on the surface of water : splashing, rippling (such as a ripple caused by the wind).
