Cambridgeshire's chalk streams
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Cambridgeshire's chalk streams |
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Burwell Brook rises near St Mary's church, in the field that contains Burwell Castle, in a series of crystal-clear chalk springs (marker 1). (You can click on the map for a larger version). The water flow into the springs is artificially controlled: when groundwater is low (usually due to excessive extraction by the water company) water is pumped to it from Eagle Lane, Stetchworth (link is to the Public Notice published in the London Gazette July 1989).
However what should be a pretty stream and a great amenity to the village is treated much like a ditch for most of its 1 mile length until it becomes Burwell Lode. From 1 to 2 it runs through the Castle Field (Spring Close) where management has been by neglect.
From 2 to 3 the brook runs east-west so this should be a sunny bank, full of brook-side and water plants. But because of years of "management by neglect" by the Parish Council the brook here is almost completely hidden beneath uncontrolled hedge and bush growth.
The brook shows several distinct stages. Below the spring is a watercress bed: the watercress here flowers but appears to set no seed, so it is a Nasturtium x sterile, cross between the two types of watercress, Nasturtium officinale and Nasturtium microphyllum.
In autumn 2016 the brook was 'ditched' where it runs through farmland (Markers 3 to 7). This was unnecessary as it had been ditched a couple of years earlier and the vegetation was only just recovering. However this section of the stream was the site of an apparently large water vole colony (Markers 5 to 7) which I have photographed. This ditch-work put paid to the water voles, which are a protected species. However the vegetation did not take very long to recover.
Click on a thumbnail for an enlarged view (with comments). Clicking on the enlarged view will download the full size original photo.
At marker 8 the brook becomes Burwell Lode - at this point the ditches from Pauline's Swamp and areas to the west of Reach Road join the brook.
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