Mapping stories on the River Chess

From its source in the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire, UK, the River Chess stretches for 11 miles to meet its confluence at the River Colne in Hertfordshire. One of only 250 or so chalk river systems in the world, the Chess supports a vibrant ecology including invertebrates, water voles and brown trout.

‘One of my hobbies is fishing,’ explains Paul Jennings, a River Chess local. ‘Very few people spend as much time on a river and notice changes and things as much as fishermen do.’

Jennings and others have been observing water quality and monitoring invertebrates in the river system for over a decade and their concern for the river’s health has led them to lobby water companies and the government to improve water quality and flow.

‘This is a chalk river that should be running crystal clear,’ says Jennings. ‘We became aware that from time to time, the water would change dramatically. We were seeing these very dramatic changes in the water colour, and also the smell.’