Caring for Our Wild Water
Norman Jackson
Norman Jackson
The unusually dry summer of 2022 across the whole of Europe witnessed the drying up of ponds, streams, ditches and wetland areas in and around Betchworth and Buckland with detrimental impacts on the plants and animals that depend on these natural sources of water. According to the SES rainfall monitoring station in Redhill, we have had significantly less than average rainfall in all but 3 months of 2022.
Like so many other aspects of our environment we need to do more to conserve and optimise the use of this precious resource not just for ourselves but also for the plants and animals that depend on it.
RE-Betchworth’s work plan includes action for water.
Our first concern is for the water that nature provides in our river, streams, ponds and ditches – our “wild water” . The question we are asking is: what more can we do to protect, conserve and expand this precious resource, and make more effective and productive use of the water that nature provides? Our second concern is for the water that is provided to our homes through SES Water. Each person in the SES supply area uses around 150 litres of water a day at home – that’s 20 litres higher than the national average. So the question we are asking is: what more can we do to reduce our household consumption and make more effective use of the water we consume by storing and reusing it?
Like so many other aspects of our environment we need to do more to conserve and optimise the use of this precious resource not just for ourselves but also for the plants and animals that depend on it.
RE-Betchworth’s work plan includes action for water.
Our first concern is for the water that nature provides in our river, streams, ponds and ditches – our “wild water” . The question we are asking is: what more can we do to protect, conserve and expand this precious resource, and make more effective and productive use of the water that nature provides? Our second concern is for the water that is provided to our homes through SES Water. Each person in the SES supply area uses around 150 litres of water a day at home – that’s 20 litres higher than the national average. So the question we are asking is: what more can we do to reduce our household consumption and make more effective use of the water we consume by storing and reusing it?
Above: Slough Brook in March when water flowed freely and in August when the brook was completely dry
As an initial step towards developing a water conservation and regeneration strategy we are going to create an up to date inventory of the lakes, ponds, watercourses and wetlands in the parishes of Betchworth and Buckland. This will take the form of a map of the natural and man made lakes, ponds, watercourses and transient wetland areas in and around our villages. We will also undertake a survey of garden ponds in our villages and offer Zoom meetings.
Our hope is that during the early part of 2023 we will, as a community, be able to create more garden ponds and regenerate existing ponds that have become silted and overgrown. In this way we might seek to enhance our environment and increase biodiversity for the plants and animals that depend on these watery habitats. During the final stage of our project we hope to engage in a community pond or wetland restoration or creation project if we can find a suitable site for development. If any of these ideas interest you and you would like to be involved in any of these activities, please do not hesitate to get in touch [email protected].
As an initial step towards developing a water conservation and regeneration strategy we are going to create an up to date inventory of the lakes, ponds, watercourses and wetlands in the parishes of Betchworth and Buckland. This will take the form of a map of the natural and man made lakes, ponds, watercourses and transient wetland areas in and around our villages. We will also undertake a survey of garden ponds in our villages and offer Zoom meetings.
Our hope is that during the early part of 2023 we will, as a community, be able to create more garden ponds and regenerate existing ponds that have become silted and overgrown. In this way we might seek to enhance our environment and increase biodiversity for the plants and animals that depend on these watery habitats. During the final stage of our project we hope to engage in a community pond or wetland restoration or creation project if we can find a suitable site for development. If any of these ideas interest you and you would like to be involved in any of these activities, please do not hesitate to get in touch [email protected].