Manifesto for Chilterns Wildlife

Chalk streams

Water in a dry landscape

There are only 300 chalk streams in the world and the Chilterns is home to 9 of these which are precious habitats that support some of the UK’s most endangered species such as the water vole, reed bunting and brown trout.

However, far from being the pride of the Chilterns our chalk streams are in steep decline with no sign of improvement. A particularly wet winter offers a temporary respite, but many will again have no water in them at all which has a devastating effect on the wildlife that depends on them.

We have one of the highest rates of water use per person in Europe which leads to the over abstraction of water to feed high levels of demand. Our inefficient use of water is then compounded by dry summers, run off from tarmacked surfaces, the canalisation of stretches of the rivers and pollution.

Our Manifesto

1. The Chilterns Landscape

2. Chalk Streams

3. Woodlands

4. Grasslands & Commons

5. Farming & Wildlife

We are committed to:

Stopping unsustainable water abstraction from the chalk streams and aquifer
Achieving the Water Framework Directive objectives for the Chilterns
Ensuring the highest level of protection for our chalk streams
Supporting the development of a Chilterns Chalk Streams Strategy

We will:

Work with government agencies, water companies and stakeholders through the Chalk Rivers Action Group
Develop and support local projects to enhance chalk stream habitats and species
Support the work of the Chilterns Chalk Stream Project
Increase the monitoring of pollution levels by recording river fly activity
Ensure the impact of new developments on chalk streams are highlighted in Local Plans and planning applications
Seek opportunities to support catchment scale conservation projects that focus on naturalising water courses
Raise public awareness of the link between water demand, abstraction and chalk stream flow and wildlife loss