The UK is home to over 80% of the world's chalk streams and since being elected James has raised the need to protect and enhance the precious chalk streams in West Norfolk and across the country.
James joined Charles Rangeley-Wilson and David Diggins, Norfolk Rivers Trust, to see the conclusion of the second year of restoration work on the River Nar from Castle Acre Common towards West Acre.
Over the centuries many rivers have been modified to be straightened or widened to drain the land; or had courses redirected and restricted for milling and water meadow operations. The River Nar has been affected by all these techniques. The current river channel is unnaturally deep and wide and does not flow through the lowest part of the floodplain. The man-made characteristics are not what would be expected in a chalk stream and they have negative impacts on the river flows and habitats.
James commented,
"This is a very impressive project and shows how we can restore our precious chalk streams in West Norfolk and across the country.
Looking at last year's restoration work, with trout and new habitats it would be hard to tell that this was not how the river had flowed naturally for many years."
The project includes the creation of a new channel, the restoration of an existing channel, and the development of a stage zero channel and aims to
- restore part of the Nar to natural widths, depths, and gradients to allow natural water process to return
- create a sustainable chalk river habitat that will allow native species to prosper. Such habitats will include new bank habitat for water voles, areas of clean gravel beds for invertebrates, and spawning trout.
- open up views of the river from the footpath
- convert the existing channel into a backwater to increase habitat diversity while reducing flood risk downstream
- improve the connection of the river with its floodplain allowing natural flood water storage during flooding event
Earlier, as a Vice-Chairman of the All Party Group on Chalk Streams, James joined the Chalk Rivers Action Group (CRAG) Chalk Streams Summit 2020 with Environment Minister Rebecca Pow who spoke about importance of reducing usage, reducing leakage, tackling storm overflows, and other issues. To watch the summit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbOgQb1i3Vw&feature=youtu.be
For me information on the River Nar project visit https://chalkstreams.org/
