LBP2023YearEndReportFeb2024Download
This year we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Letcombe Brook Project with a special event held at the Grove premises of one of our sponsors, Williams Racing. Eighty people came along to learn more about the Project and the conservation work being carried out in the wider River Thames catchment area. The first speaker was Sally Wallington, LBP’s first…
LBP2022YearEndReportDownload
The state of Britain’s rivers has finally hit the headlines and it’s about time. There is no doubt that our rivers have declined over recent years (Recent data shows only 14% of England’s rivers are in good health and all fail chemical standards) and that the regular dumping of untreated sewage into them by water companies is to blame for…
LBP 2021 Year End ReportDownload
Low Flows We are now well into Autumn but the brook is still incredibly low and I received a report last week that the main spring in Letcombe Bassett stopped flowing last week – that’s the first time its actually stopped since extraction and augmentation stopped in March 2020. The brook is fed by the aquifer that sits under the…
Wildlife Highlights I don’t need to tell you that 2020 has been a strange year but as far as the wildlife on Letcombe Brook goes, it seems to have been a pretty good year. Water voles are still classed as Britain’s fastest declining mammal but seem to be doing OK on the brook. The population is surveyed every 3 years…
I am really pleased to announce details of two new projects that will be taking place between now and March 2021. Both projects have received funding from the Environment Agency (to whom we are very grateful) and will help improve the biodiversity and functioning of this precious chalk stream. The snappily titled “Lower Mill Fish Bypass Project” does exactly what…
The banks of the brook are suddenly looking very lush and are attracting all sorts of insect life. You might notice the tall purple spires of purple loosestrife which is a real magnet for bees and butterflies. Look out for ringlets and meadow brown and perhaps even the odd marbled white at this time of year. Keep an eye out…
At the time of writing this, we are well into the Coronavirus lock-down and I for one am finding community green space even more important to my health and wellbeing. To be able to get out and go for a walk and get a quick “green fix” certainly lifts my mood and is a welcome break from being stuck inside. …
Letcombe Brook looks very different now and is much more visible with all the overhanging branches now bare of leaves. It’s a good time to try spotting trout as there is less cover for them to hide in but they are still well camouflaged and it can take a few minutes to get your eye in. Good spots are the…
A quick visit to the river at lunchtime revealed a surprisingly murky flow exiting the Old Mill in Wantage but on checking further upstream I found it was only due to 7 mallards upending and dabbling about in the bottom silt – nothing to worry about there! The usually clear waters of Letcombe Brook are perfect for spotting wild brown…