#237: 'Watercress and Winterbournes'

This a nice, geographical project based in Hampshire.

An introduction to the project from the website:

The Rivers Test and Itchen are iconic features of the Hampshire landscape, but the chalk streams that give them life are some of the greatest hidden treasures in the county. With only around 200 existing worldwide, these cool, oxygenated, alkaline waters provide a uniquely perfect habitat for species like water vole, brown trout, southern damselfly, water crowfoot, and white-clawed crayfish.

Our streams also have another story to tell: that of a landscape shaped by centuries of human activity. Adjacent fields are marked with patterns from old water meadows, while mysterious riverside structures speak of trades ranging from gin distilling to paper production. 

Today many of these historic industries continue, with our area being famous for watercress growing and fly fishing. Some of them are sadly threatened with the current tide of sewage pollution which has caused problems for so many of the country's rivers. Feargal Sharkey has spent years campaigning on this issue, which has got worse and worse during that time to the point now where sewage is routinely dumped into rivers and the sea. 

My local chalk stream is the River Nar. It runs through the village where I live and on towards King's Lynn and the Great Ouse.

We are looking forward to launching #whispersofchlakstream project on the 31st January. We would love your company - learn more about our chalk stream - come along , get involved - hear more of future events #WatercressandWinterbournes #NationalLotteryHeritage @HantsIWWildlife pic.twitter.com/j7Wk0DOaEb

— Clarke&Witt (@Attention2place) January 5, 2024

I follow a few social media accounts linked to Chalk Streams including one based near King's Lynn which shares frequent images and information on problems.

#179: Chalk Stream Challenge

A cross posting from my LivingGeography blog.

It refers to the latest (at the time of posting) episode of the Geographical Association's GeogPod podcast - hosted by John Lyon. I've posted about that previously. This is the 70th episode of the PODCAST, which is an impressive achievement.

This talks about an opportunity for those living near a Chalk Stream to take part in the Chalk Stream Challenge.

This has been developed with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.

From the website:

The challenge is suitable for Scouts, Guides, and similar groups. It involves activities that can easily be customised to suit different age ranges. There are several set routes to choose from, all of which are 'off-road’ but close to public transport, parking, and places to find refreshments and toilet facilities.

The Chalk Stream Challenge was created by two brilliant volunteers, Hazel and Sarah, as part of the Watercress and Winterbournes Landscape Partnership Scheme. 

The scheme features many projects focused on the Rivers Test and Itchen headwaters, including free education sessions for young people.

This might make a suitable field activity for GCSE Natural History students in time.

I shall post about the Watercress and Winterbournes project separately. There's a whole lot of geography in there too.

The Podcast can be listened to below:

#53: Natural History Reading List #2: A Natural History of Selborne

Updated November 15th 2023

"Gilbert White’s book, more than any other, has shaped our everyday view of the relations between humans and nature."

Richard Mabey, Naturalist & biographer of Gilbert White

Gilbert White's book is a landmark text which students of the GCSE in Natural History are likely to be introduced to in some way. It was a great inspiration for other writers who are at the heart of natural history as well, including Charles Darwin.

His house is open as a museum.

Gilbert White was the curate of the Parish of Selborne in Hampshire and lived there for 40 years. He started his work with his Garden Kalendar in 1751. He and his brother cut a path, called the Zigzag, into the hill behind the house where Gilbert lived, leading up onto the Common.

White is widely regarded as the father of ecology, and is a globally significant natural scientist. He was responsible for a number of major discoveries in the world of natural history

White is famous because of his method. 

In an age without cameras and tape recorders he correctly identified the willow wrens as separate species by their songs and by minute differences in their plumage. He did this through observation, what he called ‘observing narrowly’, and then carefully recording what he saw. 

Whereas other natural historians of the 18th century received information from all over the country, White closely observed nature in one patch of country, as modern natural historians do. He would receive specimens from local boys, or from his brother John, which he would examine. His scientific fame rests on his minute observation of all nature in his garden, on his walks and his rides in the countryside.

Some text amended from the museum website.

Simon Barnes, in The Times 1st June 2013 wrote: 

‘The book is about taking small things and understanding their place across the immensities of space and time. He was able to take a small localised matter and see its eternal significance. He saw his little chunk of Hampshire as a single living entity".

The book takes the form of a seriesof letters to Thomas Pennant and Daines Barrington, and was published in 1789 near the end of his life. 

Gilbert White also referred to the "rude magnificence" of nature.

Updated July 28th 2023

A nice piece in 'The Guardian' explored more of Gilbert White's legacy and how some the 'rude magnificence' has been restored.

It also gave me an idea to put together a GCSE Natural History Quiz as part of the resources that we will be creating around the specification.

One question would be to name Gilbert White's pet tortoise.

The article also goes into the skill of "watching narrowly" and the conservation work being carried out on the estate.

The book has never been out of print since publication.

The Linnean Society offered a session in November 2023, and a link to watch the YouTube recording was provided...