You already know that this year, to date, we have had a driest February, a wettest March, a hottest September and all manner of ups and downs in between. Overall, this has given one of the wettest 12 months in the past 30 years but distinctly average in the past three months. Some will have...
Category: From the Riverbank
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2023 – August Aquatics
Lots to report again! While itself not as wet as July in 1991, 2008, or 2012, the 12 month total to end July this year was only matched in the past 30 years by the year ending July 2001. That reflected the exceptionally wet season 2000 – 2001: many will remember the associated groundwater flooding....
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2023 – July Journal
In the past month MRA has exhibited fruitfully at Chalfont St Peter Feast Day, Boug Meadow on National Meadows Day, and at Chiltern Open Air Museum “Green Festival”. Big thanks to Mel Barnett for all his work at Feast Day, including providing the ever popular display of river invertebrates, and to Paul Heath. Our river...
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2023 – June Jewels
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...
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2023 – May Momentum
Well, that was a very encouraging month for the Misbourne since the last ramblings. There is water in Mobwell Pond – the notional source of the upper winterbourne – though maybe not flowing out yet; and ducks on the broadwaters of Missenden Abbey. Small outputs from the springs above Chalfont St Peter have been giving...
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2023 – April Advances
Dear All Spring is indeed sprung, the grass is riz, and it is becoming more obvious where the Misbourne iz! Springs at the broad waters below Missenden Abbey are the start of strong flow all the way to well past Chalfont St Giles. After a 1/2 mile gap, there are several places where bits of...
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2023 – March Moisturising
Dear All At just over 4mm in Chalfont St Peter, February’s rainfall was far below average – in fact the driest February since 1993. As a result, the seasonal recharge of the aquifer stalled as did the springtime emergence of our river. As reported last month, work parties in December and January coaxed the flow...
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2023 – February Features
Dear All So that will teach me: a month ago commenting that a whole good month’s rain in half a month was good for the recharge, and then hardly a drop since! Nevertheless, groundwater levels continued to rise strongly as the moisture percolated down and all locations were well above average when dipped on 1st...
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2023 – New Year News
Dear All Firstly, even if a little belated, very best wishes for 2023 to all. Looking back, I recall everyone thoroughly enjoyed a very good evening at our Annual Dinner in December: to reduce the chance of you missing this year’s, why not make a note in your diaries now for Wednesday 13th December 2023...
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2022 – December Delights
Some seasonal cheer! We were delighted with progress – by the last two work parties, and the clement weather. As a result, flow below Amersham now crosses the ford at Mill Lane and is on its way towards Chalfont St Giles – looking positive for flow back in the village early in the New Year....