England’s chalk streams were millions of years in the making. Can they survive today? Beautiful, slow, and meandering, the streams are tranquil habitats prized by anglers and the wildlife that the waters nurture. But these accessible sanctuaries have been damaged by humans over thousands of years, especially since the mid-20th century, as cities and farms support growing populations, polluting the streams and cutting into the valuable resources they provide. Learn more about how advocacy groups are working to restore the beauty and health of chalk streams across the country at the link in bio.
In these images:
1. Riverkeepers cut water crowfoots back in the River Avon in Hampshire. Such plants provide shade and shelter for river life, but summer excess can make fishing impossible.
2. Simon Cain, a pioneer of river restoration, fishes the Bourne Rivulet in Hampshire. The small chalk stream was overly deep from dredging and cloudy with silt until Cain restored its gravel bed and revived its ecology.
3. The River Anton in Hampshire is healthy enough to support brown trout and grayling, but murky water is a sign of trouble, including polluted runoff from roads and farms.
4. Poling a punt along the Great Stour is a popular way to see historic Canterbury. The children’s classic, "The Wind in the Willows," celebrates such a chalk stream as a “sleek, sinuous, full-bodied animal.”
Photos by Charlie Hamilton James @chamiltonjames