The Importance of our Chalk Streams

29th February 2024

The United Kingdom is home to 85% of the world’s chalk streams, they are a quintessential part of Britain’s landscape. Derived from chalk aquifers, the water is crystal-clear and rich in both nutrients and minerals which support a plethora of aquatic wildlife; botanicals, invertebrates and fish species. Not only are they important to biodiversity, they are also vital socially and culturally. These rivers are and have been, fundamental to the way the people have lived for centuries; they have been known to be used for growing watercress, redirected for powering mills, supplying water to fisheries and for abstraction for human consumption.

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One of the rarest habitats on earth

David Attenborough

In recent years, the health of these streams has rapidly declined for various reasons, a few examples being the over abstraction of water, run off contamination (from roads and fields) and human sewage contamination (in some cases untreated).

The River Lavant is a winterbourne chalk stream; running from the source in East Dean on the Goodwood Estate, it flows for approximately 15 miles (through West Dean and smaller surrounding estates and the City of Chichester) before meeting the sea at Chichester Harbour. In recent years, the estate has noticed a dramatic decline in the health of the river, the biodiversity is very poor and the river is often subject to flooding. Working with West Dean, the Goodwood estate sought advice from the ‘Arun and Rother Rivers Trust’, an independent charity, to gain advice and guidance on how best to restore the river to its former glory.

During February, the estate team walked 10 miles following the river as closely as they could to discuss potential options for improvement. The team have since identified many actions and opportunities that both ourselves and other landowners and stakeholders can take to improve the status of the river. One example is that the Goodwood forestry team has planted some black poplar (kindly donated by the Arun & Rother Rivers Trust) in one of the farm fields between Charlton and East Dean, as this particular species are tolerant to high water levels and act as a riparian buffer. We are very much looking forward to working collaboratively to restore this treasured and unique habitat so that others can cherish the chalk stream in years to come.