Chalk Stream Challenge Trail launched in Laverstock
It's the first trail in South Wiltshire - with others around Southern England
A Chalk Stream Challenge Trail has been launched along the River Bourne and it’s water-meadows in Laverstock.
The trail has been developed by charities the Wessex Rivers Trust, Laverstock and Ford Parish Council and the Devenish Bradshaw Charitable Trust and is one of a series of Chalke Stream Challenges by Wessex Rivers Trust across the south of England.
Families and youth groups can enjoy completing the activities which include spotting fish and wildflowers and watching how the speed of the river flow changes at different places.
The trail starts at the Parish Council’s Whitebridge Spinney, before venturing on to the Devenish Bradshaw owned water-meadows in Laverstock. Trees and songbirds will be found in the river, along with drifts of wildflowers in the meadows.
The trail then moves back to the beginning on Church Road, with more sights of the River Bourne chalk streams crystal-clear waters.
Wessex Rivers Trust education officer Tracy Standish said it was ‘great fun’ developing the trail.
She said: “The Challenge was dreamt up by two enthusiastic volunteers as part of The National Lottery Heritage Funded Watercress and Winterbournes Landscape Partnership Scheme on the headwaters of the Rivers Test and Itchen, and they are delighted we’ve been able to develop their badge further by creating routes on other chalk streams and rivers.”
The trail was officially opened by Nick Baker, Chair for Laverstock and Ford Parish Council, who said he was planning to set up some rafts for water voles, to improve chances of seeing them.
Amy Whetstone, Trustee for Devenish Bradshaw Charitable Trust said they were ‘thrilled’ to be hosting the first challenge trail for the Salisbury Avon.
“Our land and river is brimming with the chalk stream wildlife as displayed on the Spotter Charts and other Challenge activity sheets. Bullheads and Buttercups are waiting to be discovered by the Challenge Competitors.”