Chalk Streams of the Chilterns

Chalk Streams of the Chilterns is a new thirty-minute documentary produced in the summer of 2015. It focuses on the chalk stream, a rare habitat, of which the majority are located in the UK. In particular, chalk streams of the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Beauty, in southern England, are examined. The film explores some of the aspects of chalk streams that makes them special, including the habitats they support, the aquatic biology in action, industry on the rivers and current threats which are being addressed.
This film was produced by Matthew Plato as a component of a Master's degree in Biological Photography and Imaging, from the University of Nottingham, UK.

[@glenfordburrell1076]

Of over 30,000,000+ rivers on Earth. Less than 300 are chalky, Wow!

[@guychase8611]

Thankyou - a great insightful production - I live next to River Wye in High Wycombe - there has been some questionable “conservation” to this beautiful chalk stream up at the Fryers works recreation park - they have strewn large boulders into the stream and it has strangled the flow and caused heavy silting .

[@williamchamberlain2263]

But chalk-and-flint areas are well known for their big solid rock boulders.... Edit: less sarcastically, I heard that there's springs in that area with some evidence of worship going back to the Roman period, and probably to the pre-historic Icknield trading paths - are those being looked after?

[@poolhall9632]

clicked because I lived in Chalfont St Peter as a child. I miss these paces. I played baseball at High Wycomb RAF/USAF joint base.

[@eastsussexbeesandwildlife5801]

Thanks, enjoyed that, hope the levels are recovering with all the recent rain. We do need less abstraction though. Chalk streans are so precious.

[@simonsaorsa]

I grew up in Bishops Stortford so know the upper reaches of the Sotort well and also lived in Hitchin, where the Hiz is also chalky.

[@philfluther2713]

"Ruskin lectures on Art at Oxford and tells 1000 people (Stubbs gets 20) that a chalk stream does more for education than 100 National Schools" from Letters of J. R. Green.

[@sianwarwick633]

Very informative, eith different points of view, and well edited, thankyou

[@Hanad-tr3fb]

Really interesting to learn about I’ve grown up around the Hambleden valley and i always love to see the stream run there’s something so beautiful about seeing the grass under the water wave about under the clear water occasionally though the water randomly and suddenly shuts even in winter and spring when the rainfall is abundant so I’m not sure if thameswater is controlling the flow somehow

[@MatthewPlato91]

Same thing would sometimes happen to the Hughenden Stream, and that was a combo I think- it's quite high above the Thames so one of the first to go dry when the water table falls, but there's also some abstraction going on up the valley. It's always a shame to see it go dry, and lovely to see it flowing.

[@knowthyself5647]

Stunning video. Thank you for making, and sharing.

[@Pegasus4213]

I love chalk streams. So was interested. But the background music drowns out the spoken commentary. So I'm listening no further!

[@marciabaldwin2506]

The chess was beautiful use to park up the company van up at Sarratt spend a bit of time watching the brown trout off the bridge while collecting parts for electro plating from a few engineering companies in Wycombe kings Langley and hemel and Watford during the early 90's ❤

[@Dissmithed]

Great video. Thanks for making and uploading so I could enjoy it five and a half years later in a pandemic :-D

[@MatthewPlato91]

Glad you enjoyed it! Six years since I made this and it feels like a lifetime ago!

[@billsmith5109]

With their relatively stable flows beaver will be impactful to these streams. The stream size Professor Wotton is standing in beaver will find perfect.

[@robmtnet3000]

Around 7 mins Jonathan Tyler says that the river Chess is one of the few rivers where the Brown trout breeds naturally but I think he means that it's one of the few rivers where the Rainbow trout spawns naturally. The river Beane in Hertfordshire is also one of the few UK rivers where the Rainbow trout can spawn naturally.

[@MatthewPlato91]

Thanks for the insight, I'll have to look into that!

[@lukepattinson4744]

Enjoyed the video thanks for creating.The wider areas chalk streams are an ecological disaster waiting to happen such as Shame far too much water is taken out for drinking water . I grew up in the south and visited many to some totally unknown. In there own right they are the rainforests of the U.K. totally unique and very rare.

[@MatthewPlato91]

Thanks for your comment- indeed, the Hughenden stream near my house is bone dry and has been for some time. How much is down to a naturally low water table and / or the abstraction site upsteam is a matter of much debate!

[@stephensmith799]

Can you recommend a large, slow growing long-lived broadleaf tree that would thrive right on the on the bank of a slow flowing pond fed by chalk springs in Surrey (Fetcham)? I have a hankering for a Service tree, Black Walnut, Black Mulberry or Hawthorne...

[@spencersanderson1894]

Alder is a good wetland tree, can either let it grow big or can pollard/Coppice every ten years or so.

[@stephensmith799]

@@spencersanderson1894 Thanks. Will try that. It’s the right time for tree planting.

[@spencersanderson1894]

@@stephensmith799 No problem, sounds like a nice bit of land you got, yes it is the right time for it, good luck with it mate!

[@rueguy378]

Beautiful

[@MatthewPlato91]

Thank you!

[@stevegoody3744]

Fantastic film. Music was a bit annoying, get rid of it. Just wanted to listen to people talking.

[@anthonydeacon881]

My family moved to Amersham in 1959 and our family home was subsequently at Chesham Bois and later, Beaconsfield. The very first fish I ever caught on rod-and-line was a small trout from the Misbourne in Old Amersham (ca. 1961). I remember well cycling down Holloway Lane to spend hours gazing into the Chess where I learned to catch trout on a worm from tiny gaps in the cress beds and where I first 'tickled' a trout. Happy days!

[@MatthewPlato91]

Lovely to hear! I loved spending time in the Chess making this, beautiful summer's evening :)

[@simonsaorsa]

Very good, but sound could have been a bit louder.

[@MatthewPlato91]

+Simon Jeffreys Thank you! I'll admit sound editing is not my strongest skill, that and the wind in some places was a little too much for the equipment I had on location!

[@simonsaorsa]

No prob, keep up the good work. best

[@Codomannus331]

Please upload again dude

[@MatthewPlato91]

I may do so! I just lost the bug a few years back, which was a shame.

[@tonyclack5901]

Turn the background music off, very annoying so can watch no more, sorry.

[@markhyde1970]

Thames water & conservation 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂. Water polluters!