The Letcombe Brook Project was set up in 2003 in response to a worrying Environment Agency report about the deteriorating condition of the brook. Since then, we have worked closely with many local people and organisations to protect and enhance the brook and help people to understand, appreciate and care for the environment and local wildlife. The project was registered as a charity in March 2017.

The Environment Agency’s ‘River Corridor Survey of 1999’ noted that in places the Letcombe Brook was no longer a chalk stream in character, that there had been much realignment over the years to accommodate housing, industry, roads and the railway, and it had been over-widened and deepened. Aquatic and marginal vegetation was extremely sparse with some stretches devoid of any plants. They noted numerous negative changes including reinforced banks, numerous low weirs and impoundments. It was heavily silt-laden in places and over shaded with trees, with much rubbish in the brook. Other problems included urbanisation of the environment along with over-tidying of banks and compost heaps and garden waste dumped immediately adjacent to the brook.

Tasks are delivered by a part -time self employed Project Officer supported by a part-time Project Assistant. Advice, support and guidance about the progress and future direction of the project is provided by a project Steering Group, which meets quarterly.