Clean waters, connected communities: working together to protect and restore chalk streams

11 March 2025

The Greater Cambridge Chalk Stream Project is officially launching a new project to protect and restore chalk streams across the Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire area.

This new approach will use project case study sites and connect communities to maximise the impact of the work being done. Bringing together scientists, conservationists, and local communities, the project will ensure that restoration efforts are grounded in long-term data and meaningful action.

It is also a data-driven approach, with baseline assessments and monitoring of the chalk streams being essential to inform the decisions that are made.

The council is undertaking the project with partners as a commitment to nature recovery.

Chalk streams are some of the UK’s most fragile and rare ecosystems, despite 85% of the world’s chalk streams being in England.

The cool, spring-fed waters sustain an extraordinary range of wildlife, from brown trout and water crowfoot to mayflies and starworts. Yet, despite their global significance, they are facing a critical decline due to our over use of natural water resources, pollution, habitat degradation, and climate change.

This project presents an opportunity to restore our chalk streams, strengthen biodiversity, and ensure these irreplaceable ecosystems thrive for future generations.

What makes this project different?

  • Science-led, data-driven restoration – using real-time monitoring and in-depth ecological assessments to ensure interventions deliver measurable improvements
  • A whole-catchment approach – tackling not just in-stream habitat loss but also the wider pressures of water quality, sedimentation, and land use
  • Community-powered conservations – to take part you can:
  • Join a volunteer day and help with restoration
  • Join a citizen science projects (water monitoring and species surveys)
  • Support the project through donations or advocacy
  • Spread awareness

For further information, please contact: nature@cambridge.gov.uk

Read more in the full project report [PDF, 4MB].

We fund this project with Anglian Water, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, Hobson’s Conduit Trust and South Staffordshire Water. This project is being delivered in partnership with South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC), Cambridgeshire County Council, Greater Cambridge Shared Planning and the Environment Agency.