By Lindsey Death
Wessex Rivers Trust Engagement Officer
‘Our Healthy Headwaters’ is an exciting community engagement initiative led by local environmental charity Wessex Rivers Trust, aiming to encourage and inspire those living on the Headwaters of the Hampshire Avon – including here in the Cranborne Chase National Landscape – to take river-friendly action in their day-to-day lives.
There are only around 200 chalk streams in the world, and 85% are here in England. Of these, the Avon, with its tributaries, is arguably the most important of them all and considered an Area of Special Conservation. The headwaters are their starting points, and these smaller, often unseen, streams are especially distinctive. They flow from underground aquifers, help regulate the temperature of the river system and filter pollutants and sediment before the water flows into the larger reaches. Headwaters often make up the majority of a river’s length (around 70%) and are considered to be the foundation stone for a healthy river system.
But many headwaters are under threat for a wide range of reasons. Our Healthy Headwaters project is supported through funding from the Wessex Water Partners Programme, and is here to support people to understand the part we can all play – and how small changes at home, school or work can lead to big improvements for wildlife and water quality.
I grew up in Salisbury on the banks of the river Avon and have a background in nature conservation, recently joining Wessex Rivers Trust as an Engagement Officer on the Our Healthy Headwaters project.
I’ll be working across four main areas:
- Save Every Drop – the water we use has been taken from the river, so how can we change habits around water at home, at school and at work to ensure resilience for our rivers and the wider environment?
- Down Your Plughole – what are the risks to river health in the chemicals we use in and around our homes, through domestic cleaning, personal care, in the garden, and through flushing medications?
- Pet Medications – what’s the impact of topical pet medications on aquatic life and what are the alternatives available?
- Septic Smart – how to use and maintain septic tanks in ways that minimise pollution to rivers and groundwater?
Just One Thing for Today…
Just one thing you can do today, that will help the health of our local rivers. Check the back of your washing-up liquid bottle. Many washing-up liquids contain the words ‘Harmful to the aquatic environment with long-lasting effect’. If yours says this, would you consider switching to a more river-friendly alternative?
You can take any empty bottle to somewhere that offers refills, and save on plastic waste at the same time. There are some fantastic shops within the National Landscape offering a range of refills on personal care and cleaning products in Tisbury and Chettle as well as in neighbouring Wilton and Wimborne. You can read an article on refill shops, find out more about the project and download resources by visiting our project webpage here: Our Healthy Headwaters