About us — what we investigated
The River Tarrant Protection Society (RTPS) commissioned an independent review of why our chalk stream has seen more frequent low flows and drying. The work gathered historic accounts and archives, including mill records and fisheries notes, alongside rainfall data, observation-borehole groundwater levels, and spot-gauged river flows. We mapped how the catchment behaves through wet and dry spells and compared past and present patterns. The review considered a range of potential influences, including climate variability, land use, and public water-supply abstraction. It also tested a simple catchment model against what residents and volunteers have observed on the ground.
What we’re doing next
RTPS will engage with the Environment Agency (EA), Wessex Water (WW), and local partners to review the evidence together and agree next steps. We’ll focus on a practical, monitoring-led approach so changes can be tracked clearly and transparently. We plan to discuss options, assess feasibility and costs, and identify any trials worth exploring, without pre-judging a single “fix.” We’ll keep the community involved through local meetings and regular updates in The Tarrant Times and online. Volunteers will be invited to help with simple observations, river level checks, and historic photo collation so everyone can see progress.