About the event

Deep below the Hampshire landscape, there is an enormous layer of chalk - our aquifer. The water that flows through this sedimentary rock is given the name groundwater, and is the source of our beautiful chalk streams. But the depths hold more than just water: this subterranean space is also home to mysterious and ancient creatures.

In this talk, Tim Johns from the Environment Agency will uncover the secret world of stygofauna. He'll explain where they come from, what they look like, and where they can be found, including identification tips and practical advice about sampling wells and springs. He'll also introduce the Agency's new national groundwater ecology monitoring network (the first of its kind), highlight some recent results from Hampshire, and explore how this data can help us to better understand the condition and value of groundwater.

Tim is a freshwater ecologist with the Environment Agency, where he has worked for over 30 years. Having established a background in groundwater earlier in his career, he has since developed a passion for, and expertise in, aquatic subterranean fauna. He has conducted various research projects and studies on groundwater fauna in England, and now leads the Agency’s groundwater ecology monitoring programme.

This event is part of Watercress and Winterbournes, a Landscape Partnership Scheme that is protecting, enhancing, and celebrating seven local chalk streams.