The river Ebble is a type of river called a ‘chalk stream’ and is one of the five rivers of Salisbury. It lies in the ‘Chalke Valley’, which is located in Cranborne Chase National Landscape.
What Makes the River Ebble Special?
Chalk streams are a very rare type of river.
Over 80% of all the chalk streams in the world are found in southern England. Chalk streams are rich in flora and fauna and are an irreplaceable part of our natural history.
What is a Chalk Stream?
Chalk streams are rivers that rise from springs in landscapes with a chalk bedrock.
As a result, the water in the streams contains little in the way of organic matter and sediments, and therefore is generally very clear.
Because chalk streams are fed from ground springs, their water conditions (temperature, flow rate, minerals) are more stable season to season than other rivers.
Key Characteristics:
- Very clear water
- Clean gravel and flint river bed
- Soft margins (river banks)
- Rich in minerals
- Stable all-year temperature
Which Species does the River Ebble Support?
The river Ebble supports a rich variety of animal and plant life.
Mammals
You can find mammals such as Water Voles and Otters living on the river Ebble.
Fish
Brown Trout and Bullhead are the most widespread species, and Grayling can also be found in the river. You’ll also find freshwater shrimp living in the Ebble.
Birds
Birds that commonly live along the river Ebble include the Little Egret, Herons and Kingfishers.
Plants
Riverside plants include Purple Loosestrife, Aquatic Sedge and Water mint. Growing inside the river you may typically find Water Crowfoot, Starwort, and River Moss.
Insects
The Ebble also supports a wide variety of key insect life such as Mayfly, Upwing Flies, Caddis Flies and Stoneflies.
Threats to the River Ebble
There are a variety of threats to the Ebble, and these range from pollution to invasive species of flora or fauna.
The American Mink
The American Mink is an invasive non-native species that were originally brought to fur farms from North America and have subsequently escaped or been released into the wild. A single mink can destroy entire colonies of ground-nesting birds, and they also have sadly driven the population of water voles to near extinction.
Non-native Invasive Plants
There are a number of non-native invasive species of plants that threaten the habitats of the river. These include Himalayan Balsam, Japanese Knotweed and Canadian Pondweed.
Pollution
Road pollution threatens the river as it pours down roadside drains that lead directly into the river. Also water that runs off farmlands which can contain fertiliser, pesticides and soil.