87.4% Fall and An Abstemious Fug of Dissapointment

Kersplosh, and here we are back in the river.

Yes there is undoubtedly a lot more river than there was ten weeks ago, but this is how a winter should be.

Aquifers are not replenished, a magic wand has not been waved there is a long way to go yet this winter. Short term gains are one thing but keep an eye on the bigger picture. I feel for everyone north of here affected by flooding who currently entertain eels under the chaise longue.

The insinuation by some that this kind of thing would not be allowed to happen closer to Westminster can be added to the list of "reasons the rivers of this region suffer from over abstraction"

Chalk valleys respond in a unique way to heavy rain, sucking it up like a sponge before releasing the eau via springs sometime later. They rarely flash flood. The cricket correspondent for The Times, whose family have haunted this valley for aeons always insists:

“The Test is too much of a lady to flood, she’s a far too gentile river”

Which she is most of the time, but she really lets it all hang out when she does flood. Groundwater flooding takes longer to dissipate than flashy rivers that do not rise on the chalk.

My own bellwethers for aquifers in good health and the prospect of imminent flooding indicate we have a long way to go yet. There is no water in the spring ditch that runs around the football pitch, the field known across the ages as “Spring Bottom” remains spring free and the hatch on the house installed in 1847 that draws water down the mill stream to drive a wheel, remains closed.

The subject of chalk streams in crisis continues to appear in various forms of the media, which is great.

A few years ago we had the chalk stream charter, this year we have had the chalk stream dossier, each supported by big noises in the chalk river world.

While it’s great that public awareness of the plight of groundwater fed rivers is being raised and the same big noises have moved on from a period of taking biscuits, tea and false platitudes from the principle perpetrators of ills that affect the chalk rivers. Further reports repeating mantras from five years ago are the stuff of the People’s Front of Judea.

Real action must be implemented if change is to be affected regarding the current unsustainable use of the groundwater resource. Current climatic conditions make promoting this case difficult, but the point must be made that something must be done in order to avoid the high summer decline that these precious rivers have experienced in recent times.

With a nod to Kevin from Canada (see previous post) autumn colour is maintained and currently sits at around 87.4%, but oaks on the turn indicate that all will be done in a matter of weeks.

Despite an extensive list of ailments, Lord Ludg ticked off another summer and we have entered the wood, chainsaws in hand. I’ve had two offers this summer from drive by tree surgeons offering to deal with ash trees visible from the road that are obviously riddled with dieback. Each offer was declined and the trees will be dealt with in our own amateur way, but thanks for the offer. High wind while we were away caused a couple of willows to cash in their chips and the substantial conker tree downstream from the fishing hut continues to shed limbs. The grapevine in our garden failed to produce fruit this year and blackbirds anticipating their annual tipsy treat of fermenting grapes bumble about the garden in an abstemious fug of disappointment and a wary eye for a sparrow hawk that sporadically buzzes the bird feeders.

This week the parish received the gift of new holiday accommodation.

It’s all a bit Cold War Steve, and should be around for a few weeks yet as it is offered for lease on Booking.com as Spa accommodation for eight, spread over four floors with river views, extensive grounds and hot tub.

Book now for Christmas and New Year.

On a more serious note we had a missing person crisis last week. A forty year old lady reached crisis point and drove away from her life.

Abandoning her car on the back track the poor soul wandered away to ponder the forks in the path that circumstances had laid before her.

Whatsapp was abuzz, helicopters and drones were flown and all were advised to check outbuildings.

Walking the dogs up the river in a post prandial/jet lagged fug on Sunday afternoon I crashed into a line of high viz orange sweeping the valley. Questions were asked by both parties before Moss entered stage left to disrupt proceedings.

Thankfully the lady was found alive and physically ok in Longparish the following day.

We’ve had the occasional grayling angler put in an appearance, the increase in flow and a tint of colour have perked things up and while nothing much is looking to the surface for sustenance, barbie pink nymphs seem to be reasonably effective. The increase in flow has stimulated ranunculus and if current conditions continue there may be weed to cut in early spring before the trout fishing season opens.

This used to be a fairly regular occurrence, but is not a state of affairs experienced in this environs since 2014. The increase in flow has also pulled brown trout up river to spawn on their regular spawning shallows. These shallows have not played host to spawning brown trout for the past five winters due to lack of water. The same has held true for grayling during the past three winters.

Apologies to our cousins in the north who must fear further cloudbursts,

but we'll take some more rain in these parts yet.