Open Chalk Streams

Throughout their long history, our chalk streams have attracted people with their beauty and bounty. As settlements sprang up along their banks, many parts came into the care of private owners. Today, these winding waters connect thousands of gardens, estates, farms, and businesses.

As a result of this, some stretches of stream are closed to the public for safety or privacy reasons. Others are hidden in a different way: accessible, but not widely appreciated or understood. The Open Chalk Streams project aims to change that, by creating new ways to experience these places.

On special days each year, you can visit spaces that are normally off-limits and see familiar spots in a whole new light. You might get tips from a keen gardener, see restoration efforts, or simply wander in search of wildlife - all as part of the Watercress and Winterbournes Landscape Partnership Scheme.

Explore our wider work

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