Over the past four years, the Watercress and Winterbournes partners have been delighted to support a range of brilliant projects through their Community Grant Scheme. These pots of funding, worth up to £5,000, were offered to community-led projects that protect, enhance, or celebrate the chalk stream headwaters of the Rivers Test and Itchen.
The grant scheme is now closed, but we're pleased to announce the five projects that have received funding for 2025. With focuses on water saving, stakeholder engagement, public access, and cultural celebration, these fantastic projects will make a real difference for our precious chalk streams. Look out for more updates through the year!
Slowing the Flow - Abbotts Ann Primary School
Grant: £4,965
Abbotts Ann Primary School welcomes children from several villages to the south of Andover, including the one which shares its name. It aims to provide a friendly environment for its pupils, and uses the extensive school grounds - which include a wildflower meadow, a vegetable garden, and woodland - to foster connections with nature.
This project will further enhance the school by exploring the theme of water with the pupils. New water butts will capture rain, which will be used on the school's gardens and flowerbeds. A "slow flow" planter will illustrate how hard surfaces change the way in which water moves through the landscape. These topics will be explored further, alongside water efficiency, through educational activities.
Learn more about Abbotts Ann Primary School
Pond and Stream Community Access Path - Laverstoke and Freefolk Millennium Green Trust
Grant: £1,000
Laverstoke and Freefolk Millennium Green was created in 2000, in order to secure a green space for these two village communities. Today, it includes a children's play area, an ornamental garden, a field and woodland area, and a large pond that is connected to the Upper Test chalk stream.
This project will enhance the area with the creation of a new permissive footpath, which will connect the pond area to a nearby public walking route. By deviating from the busy main road, visitors will have the chance to enjoy a peaceful stroll along the chalk stream. New signage will also enable walkers to learn more this habitat and its wildlife.
Learn more about Laverstoke and Freefolk Millennium Green
Enhanced Volunteer and Public Engagement - Pillhill Brook Association
Grant: £1,622
The Pillhill Brook Association is a group of landowners and volunteers who aim to coordinate community efforts to protect the Pillhill Brook - a chalk stream that runs through a number of villages to the south of Andover. Their activities include conducting species surveys, promoting good habitat management, assessing groundwater levels, and monitoring water quality.
This project will expand several areas of the Association's work. An increased presence at public events will support landowner engagement and wider awareness-raising around key issues. Additional equipment will result in more accurate water quality and quantity data. Finally, trail cameras will provide proof of animals like otters and water voles, which can be used in efforts to ensure their protection.
Learn more about the Pillhill Brook Association
Particulates in the Upper Itchen - Upper Itchen Restoration CIC
Grant: £4,000
The Upper Itchen Restoration CIC is a not-for-profit company dedicated to improving our understanding of the pressures on the Upper Itchen catchment. Through citizen science and academic collaboration, it aims to inform restoration measures that can be taken forward by individual change and stakeholder action.
This project is a collaboration with Brighton University, and will focus on microplastic pollution in the Candover Brook and River Arle - two upper tributaries of the River Itchen. Volunteer citizen scientists will collect water samples, which the University will analyse with the aim of identifying likely sources for particulate pollution. The findings will be used to engage land managers and local communities with this issue.
Morris Beasts and River Tales - Whitchurch Folk Ltd
Grant: £3,969
Whitchurch Folk Festival is an annual celebration of folk music and dance. Held in the picturesque town of Whitchurch, the festival showcases incredible musicians and Morris dancers, as well as workshops and a Jack in the Green parade. There are special activities for younger attendees, usually including crafts, storytelling, and sensory sessions.
This project will focus on the chalk stream that runs through the heart of Whitchurch - the Upper Test. In a series of workshops, the local community will create a set of "Morris beast" costumes inspired by chalk stream wildlife. Young residents will learn about the stream through storytelling and craft activities. A new musical composition will further bring the stream to life for festival visitors.
Learn more about Whitchurch Folk Festival
Get involved
The grant scheme may be closed to new applications, but there are other ways to get involved in the Watercress and Winterbournes scheme. Why not take your family out to try the Chalk Stream Challenge, or learn about wildlife with our online talks?