Ver Valley Society

In St Albans on Saturday? Come and see us at the Community Showcase, Oct 25, 11am-3pm in the Nave of St Albans Cathedral, Table 49. Catch up on the water quality work we're doing to protect the #riverver but ask us anything! www.stalbanscathedral.org/Event/st-alb... @chilternstreams.bsky.social

Our volunteers have been out on the #RiverVer in October. From repairing the willow spiling at Redbournbury Mill to retrieving rubbish from the river in St Albans, there's always plenty needs doing on a #chalkstream.
@chilternstreams.bsky.social @colnecan.bsky.social

A final #BalsamBash of the season on the #RiverVer supported by 29 of our volunteers. Thanks to one and all, we've combed every inch of the infested banks at least twice. We'll be ready again in 2026! #INNS
@chilternstreams.bsky.social @colnecan.bsky.social

It's moments like these that keep us going - a water vole on the #RiverVer, on a recent summer evening. We love our chalkstream!

Have you taken our survey yet? 🤔
And if not, why (Wye!) not 🤔
Take our survey to add your voice to the story of the ancient and extraordinary story of the Chilterns chalk streams! (And be entered into our £50 voucher prize draw!)
Link in bio!

@heritagefunduk.bsky.social
@chilternsnl.bsky.social

Many thanks to our volunteers for another thorough #balsambash. Much Himalayan Balsam removed and Purple Loosestrife planted. The #RiverVer chalk stream is all the better for it. @chilternstreams.bsky.social

Administration Officer This role provides a rare and exciting opportunity to join a multi-disciplinary team working in one of the country’s finest and most accessible protected landscapes.

Great opportunity to join the @chilternsnl.bsky.social team but you’ll have to be quick there are just 2 days left to apply!! www.chilterns.org.uk/jobs/adminis...

Serious water pollution in England up 60%, government says Last year had the highest number of pollution events by water companies ever recorded.

A staggering rise in serious pollution incidents comes as no surprise to the people and wildlife along the #RiverVer. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Care and attention was devoted to the #RiverVer last Friday, with the help of some brilliant corporate volunteers from AMD. Himalayan Balsam was removed and waders donned waders for the first time to thin the overhead willow canopy. @chilternstreams.bsky.social @colnecan.bsky.social

Join us at 7.30pm, Tues 17 June, St Stephen Parish Centre AL2 3PJ. FREE meeting, all welcome. Guest speaker Dr Julie Battersby will tell us about toads; there'll be updates on the state of the #RiverVer & plenty of time for sewage, planning, nature & more. riverver.co.uk/open-meeting...

Join us at 7.30pm, Tues 17 June, St Stephen Parish Centre AL2 3PJ. FREE meeting, all welcome. Guest speaker Dr Julie Battersby will tell us about toads; there'll be updates on the state of the #RiverVer & plenty of time for sewage, planning, nature & more. riverver.co.uk/open-meeting...

Final call! Join us this Thursday and support our efforts to revive the Ver. bit.ly/3PwKPh7

It doesn't really need a test to prove that the #RiverVer below Markyate sewage works is in a dire state. 3275hrs of continuous sewage since Dec 2024 & there's an E. coli level of 20,000 colonies per 100ml - more than 20 times the poorest bathing quality limit. #GreatUKWaterBlitz

There's nothing more rewarding than when 20 volunteers turn up to show to give the #RiverVer a bit of TLC on an April weekend. Light let in, rubbish removed, soul refreshed. We love our chalk stream! @chilternstreams.bsky.social @colnecan.bsky.social

Yesterday, I raised concerns about Markyate Sewage Works in Parliament to highlight the 3,000 hours of continuous overflow polluting our chalk streams.

I am pushing for blue flag status to hold water companies accountable. Our environment needs protection.

Can we be sure that it's an improvement plan that sorts out more than storm water discharges, and groundwater isn't excluded in the small print?

Another unwanted and unbelievable milestone passed today - 3000 hours of continuous sewage have been discharged directly into the #RiverVer chalk stream since December 12th 2024. No rain or snowmelt - see you in court? @chilternstreams.bsky.social @colnecan.bsky.social

Taking advantage of the long dry spell, our volunteers have been out taking samples from the #RiverVer to compare results with the times when road runoff is in full flow.

Many thanks to our volunteers for putting on a morning show for the wonderful Wild About Redbourn group. Plenty of chat about the local #RiverVer and #RiverRed plus chalk streams and the wildlife they support. @chilternstreams.bsky.social @alan-winn.bsky.social

Our enthusiastic volunteers have been in the Flamstead area. A quick stop to be reminded of just how awful the sewage in the #RiverVer remains below Thames Water's Markyate Sewage Works: 2675 hours non-stop since Dec 24. Then on to some channel work to free the flow! @chilternstreams.bsky.social

🚨 Recent data shows Thames Water dumped sewage into England’s waterways for a whopping 298,081 hours in 2024

‼️ And there’s been continuous discharges into the #RiverVer since December 2024.

✍️ @victoria-collins.bsky.social and I have called on the Environment Agency to urgently intervene.

Join us at a fund-raising performance of An Enemy of the People at the Abbey Theatre, St Albans, Thurs 15 May 2025, 7.30pm. Tickets £15 +booking fee. Book here: bit.ly/3PwKPh7 We've had enough of sewage in the #RiverVer help us put the sparkle back into our chalk stream. @chilternstreams.bsky.social

The #RiverVer hasn't had a day in 2025 without sewage discharging into the headwaters. Thanks to Jonah Fisher and
BBC Breakfast for highlighting the 40-year blight of Thames Water's Markyate Sewage Treatment Works (sic). @colnecan.bsky.social @chilternstreams.bsky.social

Unhappy Anniversary! Today, marks 3 months of continuous sewage discharges from Thames Water's Markyate STW. Contrast the sparkling chalk stream water our volunteers tested above the works, compared with the dead brown stream below. riverver.co.uk/never-ending... @chilternstreams.bsky.social

All welcome at our open meeting on Thurs 27 Feb!

@colnecan.bsky.social @chilternstreams.bsky.social

Find out more here about river improvements at Riverside Way #StAlbans on the #RiverVer to address issues including overshading, low energy flow and bank erosion. Project lead @HertsCC CMS partner @vervalleysoc.bsky.social
colnecan.org.uk/index.php/th...

We look forward to being there!

Most kind. Great photo and it does suggest that you were probably standing with a pint in hand!

Open Meeting Thurs 27 Feb 7.30pm, Redbourn Village Hall, AL3 7LW. Latest news on #RiverVer water quality, sewage & wildlife + guest speakers Nick Marriner & Melinda Dresser of Chilterns National Landscape with Conservation on the Chilterns Chalk. Details: bit.ly/3QqhzsT