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At Jo Churchill MP’s request, Anglian Water invited a number of Lark stakeholder organisations including RLCP to spend a morning to brainstorm how future government policy might aid restoration of chalk streams such as the Lark over the next few years. Rebecca Pow MP, until recently the Environment Minister for rivers also attended. RLCP pitched in actively in the discussion and assisted in organisation, including Steph providing home-baked cakes for everyone. Jo Churchill sent a message to thank all the participants for their time and Sam Westwood from Anglian Water thanked Annie and her team from Fullers Mill Gardens for hosting us at very short notice.  Jo Churchill MP and Rebecca Pow MP at Fullers Mill Gardens Lark Flagship - major step forward At the event an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) was signed between Anglian Water and RLCP covering the two years of planning for implementing the Flagship project at the end of 2024. The Lark Flagship is one of 12 chalk streams identified as a national priority. At the Chalk Stream Flagship national launch last year, Rebecca Pow Environment Minister stated: “Chalk streams are both incredibly rare and a hugely important part of our environmental heritage” Tony Juniper Chair of Natural England added “These habitats are subject to a complex range of pressures, however, from pollution arising from road runoff, agriculture and sewage, to low flow resulting from abstraction for public water supply and physical damage to the water courses.” The Lark is one of the first Flagship projects to be fully underway. Planning work has already started with a “natural capital” study commissioned and completed.  The River Lark at Fullers Mill, July 2022 Here are some of the latest things our volunteers and members have been up to since March 2022: Fullers Mill Work Parties Once we had finished the project at Flempton Bridge, we returned to Fullers Mill to install 6 tonnes of gravel into the river! This was hard, physical work, but will massively improve the biodiversity in the river, improving the habitats for invertebrates and spawning grounds for fish, and therefore helping birds and mammals as well. Huge thanks to Glenn and all the volunteers who came to help us. Tributaries Group - Water Quality Testing Our Tributaries Group had their first sampling day in March, doing a snapshot sample of all of the tributaries near the confluence points with the River Lark. Tributaries Snapshot Sampling Day, Fullers Mill, March 2022 Since then, we have also had three sampling days: Tuddenham Stream, Culford Stream and the source and confluence points of most of the tributaries. Tuddenham Stream Sampling Day, March 2022 Culford Stream Sampling Day, April 2022 Tributaries Source and Confluence Sampling Day, May 2022 The pollution group will be discussing how we use the data we collect, and where we will be sampling from the Autumn. Promoting RLCP at Events Some of our fantastic volunteers have been representing RLCP at various events in Bury St Edmunds since May. Thanks to Graham, Caroline, Andrew and Steph for manning the RLCP stall at two Eco Markets and the Bury BioBlitz in the Abbey Gardens. We have had some really great discussions with members of the public and we have picked up some new members and supporters. Caroline and Graham manning the RLCP Stall, Bury Eco Markets and Bury BioBlitz Information Board Installed at West Stow Country Park Our second information board is now installed on the path next to the Lark at West Stow Country Park (the first one is at Fullers Mill Gardens) and celebrates all the hard work of our volunteers back in the Autumn last year along with our friends at Bury Trout Club. Do have a look next time you are walking along the river!  Steph with the noticeboard at West Stow Himalayan Balsam Alongside our friends at Bury Water Meadows Group, our volunteers have been hard at work in the last few weeks helping to survey for and remove himalayan balsam along the river bank from Bury up to Hengrave. Thank you to all our volunteers who braved the heatwave, humidity, nettles and mosquitoes to help us keep this invasive species under control. Special thanks to Glenn for leading our work parties with his usual dedication and humour. Himalayan Balsam Work Parties July and August 2022 We are looking forward to seeing some of our volunteers and members over the summer and plans are well under way for our Autumn programme of restoration and citizen science projects.
Steph Holland |
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