Chalk Streams

Chalk Streams

As well as these rivers, there are a network of over 100km of crystal-clear chalk streams in the South Downs, many of them fed by springs rather than rain.

Chalk streams are internationally rare and particularly important in the National Park. There are only 200 chalk streams in the world and most of those can be found in southern England. They have been described as the “English Great Barrier Reef” thanks to their biodiversity. The Rivers Itchen and Meon are chalk streams fed with clear water by the same chalk aquifer that supplies our drinking water.

The porous nature of the chalk landscape means that ponds, such as dew ponds, are a unique source of water for wildlife where no other surface water is present, providing important homes for rare and endangered wildlife.

Click here to go on an immersive 360 degree journey through a chalk stream.

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