The River Beane Catchment Partnership gathered on 09 Dec 2022 to recap on progress made over the year towards improving the state of the river and its valley.

We have been selectivly removing trees that may pose a risk to the footpath running alongside the channel, or to the stability of the bank between the mill race and the River Beane where the breach as occurred. 

A new Chalk Aquifer Alliance has been formed to bring together all those working to protect chalk streams and their aquifers across England.

Anyone with an interest in chalk rivers is invited to subscribe (for free) to receive regular updates, hear about events and get their latest news updates direct to your inbox. See chalkaquiferalliance.wordpress.com for more details.

The River Beane is an internationally rare chalk stream habitat which has undergone decades of degradation due to historic weirs which have caused slow flows, sedimentation and blockages to fish passage.

The River Beane Catchment Partnership meeting was held on 7th October 2019, in Watton-at-Stone.

Urgent: this consultation closes on Friday 11 Ocober.

Defra are keen to hear from anyone with an interest in measures for reducing personal water consumption. This is the chance to have your say.

On 11 July 2019, Affinity Water, Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust and the River Beane Restoration Association jointly hosted an event at Woodhall Park which explored how good soil management can help our struggling chalk streams, and how partnership working can deliver effective improvements to the river environment.

Take a read of the latest What's Beane Happening newsletter, produced by the River Beane Restoration Association.

 

Take a read of the River Beane Restoration Association's autumn newsletter to learn what been happening along the River Beane!

Government consultation on developing a National Policy Statement for Water Resources and proposals to amend the definition of nationally significant water infrastructure in the Planning Act 2008.

At the start of April 2017 Affinity Water reduced the amount of water they take from the environment by sixteen million litres per day (16Ml/d) at one of their pumping stations near Watton-at-Stone.

Mayor and Andy Brown

The Mayor of Hertford, Cllr Dr Linda Radford, visited Waterford Heath Nature Reserve to officially open the new circular Chalk Stream and Heath walk.

brook lamprey

On Monday 21st March during a school river dipping session, HMWT's River School found brook lamprey in the Beane.

The next RBRA meeting is on Thursday 25th February at 8pm in Stapleford Village Hall.

The Autumn issue of the River Beane Restoration Association's newsletter "What's Beane Happening?" is now available.

On the afternoon of Friday 26th June, the CMS were joined by project partners, County and District Councillors, volunteers and representatives from key organisations to celebrate the completion of the Waterford Marsh Project.

Join the Countryside Management Service and Stapleford Parish Council to celebrate the completion of the Waterford Marsh Project, 2pm on Friday 26th June '15

The River Beane Restoration Association AGM will be on Wednesday 15th July at the Memorial Hall in Watton at Stone at 8pm.

Volunteers from the Countryside Management Service have used the skills they learnt last year to provide grazing cattle at Waterford Marsh with another source of drinking water.

Following a busy two years of activity, a £100k project to improve the valuable wetland habitats of Waterford Marsh is approaching the finish line.

RBRA logo

Want to raise awareness of your local river?  Want to support your local river group?  You need a River Beane Restoration Association car sticker!

Riverbank repair, footpath reinstatement and creation of new ponds - it's all happening at Waterford Marsh.

Do you want to know 'What's Beane Happening'?

CMS volunteers have provided cattle with an alternative source of water to the River Beane.

Affinity Water's business plan for 2015-2020 has been granted 'enhanced' status by Ofwat, in a move that has delighted campaign groups and landowners throughout the local area.

Willows pollarded, scrub cleared, interpretation panels in production, and common land consent received... it has been a busy start to the year at Waterford Marsh. 

Misconnected drains can lead to pollution of local streams, rivers and beaches, damaging wildlife and putting our own health at risk.

The latest edition of 'What's Beane Happening?', the newsletter of the River Beane Restoration Association, is now available to download.

Affinity Water has awarded £770 to Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust as part of its Community Engagement Programme.

Affinity Water has awarded £2,500 to Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust as part of its Community Engagement Programme.  

Polluted Beane

There appears to be a regular and consistent overflow of effluent into the Beane from the sewage pumping station opposite Walkern Mill.

River Beane

A new project which aims to improve a short section of the upper River Beane has been added to the plan.

The project at Waterford Marsh has got off to a flying start with a significant contribution from Network Rail. 

EA logo

Their Challenges and Choices document sets out their assessment of the Upper Lea catchment and the issues facing it. They want your views! 

Cleared bank along the Beane

This represents the first major success of the Catchment Partnership and really demonstrates that we mean business!

Polluted water

Report any such leaks using the Environment Agency's pollution hotline 0800 80 70 60.

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