River Char Project

River Char Community Project

PLEASE empty your septic tank regularly and help keep the river clean
Overflowing, leaking and damaged septic tanks are a significant source of pollution in the River Char. We can all help by keeping our own tank working well and emptied regularly. (Whatever your dad says, septic tanks need emptying at least every 2 years if they're to work properly.) We've gathered useful information to help you look after your septic tank better. See it here.

River Char Community Project
Clean, Revive, Restore
See a 2-page briefing on the project

Project Background

For most of their journey to the sea, the River Char and its tributaries flow through the parishes of Wootton and Whitchurch.

So Char Valley Parish Council (which includes these parishes) commissioned Dorset AONB and Dorset Wildlife Trust teams (using grants + Parish Council resources) to do a snapshot study of the River Char. This report is now published (Dec. 2021). It gives us a picture of the health of the river, identifies problems and points the way to a comprehensive river improvement plan.

In Phase 2 of the River Char Community Project, we are working with Dorset AONB to put their improvement plan into action.

The 7 main strands of this work are:

Monitoring
Habitat improvement & restoration
Invasive species control
Research & survey
Community engagement
Agricultural land management change
Natural Flood Management

See more details of each of these topics here.

2021/2022 River Char Project: Events

We launched the River Char Community Project on 11th Dec. 2021 at Becklands Organic Farm

On 17th January 2022 we held an evening’s ‘Char Conversation’ led by Ian Rees and Nick Gray. This was attended by 37 people. See the Questions and Answers summarised here.

On Saturday 12th February, we held a first ‘daylighting’ working party (to clear a section of the river and its banks).

On Saturday 12th March, we held a second river restoration and bat-box making session with Dorset AONB and Dorset Wildlife Trust at Befferlands Farm. We had a great turn-out and got some good clearance work done along a stretch of the river.

Friday 29th April, we held a Riverfly training day for ten residents with Angus Menzies of Dorset Wildlife Trust in Wootton Fitzpaine.

Wednesday 15th June we organised, with Dorset AONB, Dorset Wildlife Trust and FWAG, a walk along the River Char at Northay Farm - featuring soils and herbal lays. (There's a great interview with James Fuller of Northay Farm online. James and Mel are actively allowing natural processes to take place on their farm but it's not a rewilding project. Listen to the interview - and see photos of the farm - here.)
On Thursday 21st July we organised, with Dorset AONB, Dorset Wildlife Trust, a Himalayan Balsam Clearance Party at Stockham Bridge on Gassons (Watery) Lane.

Next Events:
You can check back here for updates and more details. Or we can send you occasional news and updates about the project. (Email our clerk, Tamsin, and ask to be added to the River Char email list.)

River Monitoring: We are continuing to support the 10 local residents who undertake Riverfly monitoring in the River Char

Habitat improvement & restoration: Two community working group sessions (led by Nick Gray of Dorset Wildlife Trust) on the Prime Coppice tributary will clear and maintain the riverbank, increase light and oxygen for aquatic species and use natural flood management techniques to reduce the risk of flooding – 19th November 2022 + 26th January 2023

Get to know the river: There will be two farm walks led by Ian Rees (Dorset AONB), Nick Gray (Dorset Wildlife Trust) and the landowner

Farm walk at Crabbs Bluntshay – 15th October
Farm walk at Babers Farm – 18th May 2023

There will be an update with a talk by a specialist speaker – 24th February 2023

We have prepared a leaflet to help residents to look after their septic tanks better. See it here.

From April 2022, Dorset AONB will look for additional funding to allow the project to be widened to include the entire catchment.

Technical documents

Background documents

Environment Agency 2019 report
John Blanchard's GIS mapping.
Environment Agency report - River Char: Part 1 --- Part 2
Env. Agency report - Wootton Fitzpaine Catchment
River Char: Environment Agency Cycle 2 Classifications
W Dorset Rivers & Coastal Streams: issues 22/06/15
BBC Report May 2022: Wessex Water's major storm water scheme

For comparison:

River Asker project -- full report -- summary report
River Axe Regulatory Report
Friends of the Upper Wye

River Char Community Project documents

Read the full River Char Report commissioned by your Parish Council from Dorset AONB - published Dec 2021

Read the summary report published in Char Chat Dec. 2021

The River Char and Monkton Wyld Stream Catchment

Is my river fit to play in? Check the online map at the Rivers Trust

Watch BBC Panorama'a 'The River Pollution Scandal'
(In 2020 the water companies pumped raw sewage into English rivers for a total of over 3million hours)

Read The Guardian's article - Britain oozes sewage

You can watch the AONB film that launched the River Char Community Project in summer 2021 below:

Project Funding

We are currently putting together the action programme for the next twelve months which we expect to be finalised in April. We hope to publish an update on the financing of the project then.

For the financial year 2021/22, Dorset AONB, working in partnership with DWT and FWAG, secured funding for the River Char Community Project from:

‘Greening West Dorset’s Hills and Vales’, a Green Recovery Challenge Fund project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund & Defra.
West Dorset Rivers & Streams delivery, a Water Environment Improvement Fund project from the Environment Agency.

Activity supported through this funding (some, but not all of it, in the River Char catchment) included:

Approximately 200m of river restoration at 4 sites.
Engagement with farmers to address practices impacting the water environment.

The Project launch event – 35 members of the public attended (11/12/2021)
Herbal ley site visit – (14/12/2021)
Community Q&A – 37 members of the community attended (17/01/2022)
Farm finance workshop – 6 farms represented (19/01/2021)
Volunteer sessions x 2 – 12/02/2022 & 26/02/2022
Project management / planning / reporting etc.
Support for Riverfly training
Follow up advice and support to farms after the farm finance workshop