The River Mimram that runs through Panshanger Park, in Hertfordshire, is one of around 240 chalk streams in the world, of which nearly 85 per cent are in England. It supports a wealth of different species, some of which are very rare and endangered

Light echoes from the gently flowing Wensum, a Norfolk chalk-fed river designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

Hampshire, UK

This pair of Gadwall were dabbling around in a local chalkstream where there is plenty of submerged vegetation. I was interested to read (Adrian Thomas - RSPB Guide to Birdsong) that they often feed on plant titbits brought to the surface by diving Coots, several of which they were following.

A view of the River Chess below Chenies, taken on my recent walk

At Great Gaddesden, Hertfordshire, on Christmas Eve. Panorama shot.

In Great Gaddesden, Hertfordshire, on Christmas Eve.

A Hertfordshire village with its own chalk stream (the River Gade).

The River Arle in Alresford is a chalk stream river with crystal clear water. There are always many ducks to be found here doing what ducks do, making lots of noise, acting about.

I researched the collective noun for ducks and found a huge choice - 15 on one site. I liked 'paddle'.....

This pair of Gadwall were dabbling around in a local chalkstream where there is plenty of submerged vegetation. I was interested to read (Adrian Thomas - RSPB Guide to Birdsong) that they often feed on plant titbits brought to the surface by diving Coots, several of which they were following.

Another Water vole uncharacteristically out in the open, in a city stream; as long as I didn't make any fast movements, it was content to enjoy its salad while I lay close by.

The River Gade in Great Gaddesden, Hertfordshire. Much more water than usual.

Hunting Mayfly over a chalk stream.

Due to the mild winter and mild dry spring there is a glut of Sedge,Alder,and Mayfly...amazing hatches,the like as a fisherman I've never seen before.The Hobbies were making the most of this phenomenom as it is by nature short lived,lasting only a few weeks.

Best viewed large...thanks.

Hawking on a glut of Mayfly over Hampshire Avon,shot taken a couple of weeks ago.

Three words that sum up this amazing small Falcon..the Hobby.

- this lamb is lucky enough to live with its Mama in a field on the South Downs

- we watched it follow her down the hill to the clear waters of this little tributary of the River Lavant which has a chalkstream bedrock

for: Happy Fence Friday

The Church of All Saints, East Lockinge, South Oxfordshire, UK, dates from the mid-12th century though has been much altered in subsequent centuries. The small village it still serves was developed around a substantial mansion that once dominated the parish; demolished after World War II, its grounds remain as parkland containing All Saints Church. In the foreground is the chalk stream of Lockinge Brook (whose trout are very popular with fly fishermen) that emerges below the Berkshire Downs in the village of West Lockinge before eventually, via multiple brooks and ponds, joining the River Ock near Abingdon.

River Test near Longstock, Hampshire, England. Thatched fishermans hut and wickerwork eel traps across the river. the River Test is a prime salmon and trout river.

The Ginge Brook - seen here after recent floods - is a small chalk stream that emerges below the Berkshire Downs close to the hamlet of West Ginge, South Oxfordshire, UK, then - joined by other similar chalk streams - meanders for about 16km through the villages of East Hendred, Sutton Courtenay and Steventon before joining the River Thames near the village of Culham.

The river Itchen in full flood at Mansbridge in Southampton

Unusual to get one of these elusive birds out in the open so a bit of a treat yesterday during my visit to Lemsford Springs near Welwyn Garden City :-)

The Ginge Brook is a small chalk stream that emerges close to the hamlet of West Ginge, South Oxfordshire, UK, then meanders for about 10 miles through the villages of East Hendred, Sutton Courtenay and Steventon before joining the River Thames near the village of Culham.

For a more recent view taken at the same location in November 2024, please see

www.flickr.com/photos/rosbornking/54168396225/in/datepost...

Hobby feasting on Mayfly hatch.

A graphic view of this amazing falcon..not everyone's taste,but maybe a bit more unusual than the norm...thanks.

Thanks to everyone who has looked at,faved, and made comments of my photos...many thanks,always appreciated.

The Ginge Brook is a small chalk stream that emerges close to the hamlet of West Ginge, South Oxfordshire, UK, then meanders for about 16km through the villages of East Hendred, Sutton Courtenay and Steventon before joining the River Thames near the village of Culham.

The flooded bank of the river Itchen at Mansbridge in Southampton

The Mill Brook is a small chalk stream that emerges from the Berkshire Downs at the village of Blewbury, then is joined by the similar Hakka's Brook, and meanders for about 7 miles past the village of South Moreton to join the River Thames at Wallingford.

At Water End, Hertfordshire. This is a chalk stream that, in better times, used to power a water mill a few hundred yards to the left.

This mill was constructed in 1800 and is located on the River Test at Whitchurch in Hampshire. In 1817 a new owner acquired it and changed its usage from a fulling mill for cloth to a silk mill. It subsequently changed ownership several times but remained as a silk mill until the 1980’s. It was then acquired by the Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust who operate it as a tourist attraction with limited silk weaving still taking place.

Sadly, the water wheel that provides power is located inside the black building and is not visible.

The mill is a grade2 listed building and therefore has legal protection from demolition or major alteration without prior approval from the Local Authority - Basingstoke and Dene District Council

The River Test is only 40 miles long but one of the finest chalk streams in England – crystal waters rich in flora and fauna are listed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest {SSSI}. It is renowned for fly fishing for trout.

I've tried unsuccessfully to ID this wild flower. It was growing in the middle of a chalk stream, flowering in May.

Update: I'm indebted to Ian Ijewskey (see below) for the ID of this plant.

I was amazed to find the Hamble Brook still flowing on 2nd June after such a hot dry springtime. Even here, only a mile or so from its confluence with the Thames it is rarely seen; a 'winterbourne' at best and often not seen for many years in a row. Perhaps the last 3 or 4 years of very wet springtimes are still feeding it.

Crystal clear, like bottled mineral water as all chalk streams are.

Tufted Duck, River Alre, Hampshire

Whitchurch, Hampshire

The river Itchen in full flood (Southampton, England)

This lovely cottage stands by the River Test in the village of Wherwell in Hampshire and looks as if it has recently been rethatched. It has been a grade 2 listed building since 1984 and its construction dates from the late 18th century. It is positioned at right angles to the road with a door almost on the river bank.

The River Test is a chalk stream which rises near Basingstoke and flows into Southampton Water some 40 miles away. It featured in the Richard Adams novel Watership Down and is famous for trout fishing. It has one the richest flora and fauna of any lowland river in England and much of it is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

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Grateful thanks to everyone who has looked at my photostream and commented and/or faved this photograph. Your interest is very much appreciated.

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...of Mottisfont Abbey

I've borrowed this short video from Ray... the River Test, a chalk stream with beautifully clear water, flows through the grounds of Mottisfont Abbey and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The Fulling Mill straddles the River Alre which passes underneath it. It dates from the 13th century, although the present structure is largely 17th century. It is now a private house and it was saved from dereliction in 1951 when it was renovated and the now beautiful garden laid out. It had become derelict having fallen into disuse in the 19th century when the cloth industry established large mills to undertake an increasingly mechanised process taking all of the business from established local mills.

The fulling of cloth is a process to tighten and shrink the cloth into a closely woven product. In early times the pressing and kneading was done by human feet, in shallow streams, using fullers earth. By medieval times water power was being used to drive hammers to do the work once done by human feet. The water mills constructed for this purposes were known as fulling mills and for centuries the surrounding area resounded to the hammering of the fulling stocks as they prepared the cloth.

The River Alre (sometimes spelt Arle) is a classic chalk stream of crystal clear water. It is a tributary of the River Itchen, which it joins just downstream of the town of New Alresford.