What we’re doing?

Environmental
improvement plans

As part of our commitments to our rare chalk streams, we are helping to improve biodiversity across nature reserves in our area by working with the Environment Agency, landowners and other partners to meet Water Framework Directive objectives.

Since 2015, our Revitalising Chalk Rivers programme has improved over 120km of chalk streams through reductions in abstraction and river restoration projects. We aim to complete river enhancement works at over 30 locations across 13 chalk rivers by 2025.

Over time, rivers and streams have been modified to meet different community needs. From redirecting water to turn mill wheels to produce flour to changing water levels for fisheries, watercress production and landscaping, these historic changes mean that rivers are less able to cope with the natural variations in flow, especially during drought and floods.

To help improve the flow and velocity of our rivers, we’ve removed obstacles like weirs, narrowed channels, created meanders and much more. The programme works to create resilient river systems by restoring the rivers and enhancing habitats.