Wildlife Trusts launch new fight to save rare streams

Wildlife Trusts launch new fight to save rare streams - BBOWT

the view of green plants in a stream half in and half out of the water in a blue sky — Aquatic plants in an English chalk stream. Picture: Linda Pitkin/2020Vision

Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) has launched a new campaign to rescue the counties’ rarest and most precious waterways. The charity has joined forces with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to Save Our Chalk Streams.

Chalk streams are among the world’s rarest habitats, with only around 250 in the world and 80% of those in southern England. When healthy they are home to salmon, otters, water voles and kingfishers. Despite that, they are under growing threat from having water abstracted from them and raw sewage pumped in.

The Wildlife Trusts are calling on the Government to create new legislation to give bespoke protections for all chalk streams, hold water companies to account and make polluters pay.

Estelle Bailey, Chief Executive of BBOWT, said: “Our rarest and richest chalk streams should be gin-clear and sparkling with vitality. Instead, they’re becoming clogged and choked by toxic chemicals, fertilisers and sewage. Drought and over-consumption are also draining the life out of the rivers, with devastating consequences for the wildlife and people that rely on them. The Government says our rivers won’t be healthy until 2063 but we can't wait 40 years. The Save Our Chalk Streams campaign aims to bring powerful new protections and immediate action so that our chalk streams can be restored to their former glory. Healthy rivers are vital for our water supply, food security and our ability to withstand a changing climate. We can't allow the abuse of these vital life support systems to continue.”