Chalkstreams are not only beautiful, they are also exceedingly rare.
England has 85% of the world’s 200 chalkstreams, many of which are found in Hampshire. With funding from The Vitacress Conservation Trust this project aims to protect this precious and stunning habitat, and the threatened invertebrates that call them home.
A diverse invertebrate community is fundamental to a healthy chalk river or stream, providing food for fish and mammals and acting as freshwater detritivores, herbivores and predators. These species, which are often overlooked in conservation, are threatened by habitat loss, habitat decline, pollution, abstraction and invasive non-native species.
In particular, this project, focuses on the nationally and internationally threatened white-clawed crayfish.
Raise awareness of the issues threatening chalk river species, with particular reference to white-clawed crayfish;
Improve knowledge of the ecology and distribution of crayfish, providing technical guidance and assistance to boost the development of important habitat features;
Working with land and river owners and managers to encourage habitat enhancement;
Developing novel schemes and new strategies to secure the long terms survival of white-clawed crayfish.
The UK’s only native species of crayfish and an internationally endangered species.
The white-clawed crayfish has suffered a dramatic decline across Britain and Europe.
It is believed that up to 95% of white-clawed crayfish populations in the UK have been lost, and should the current trend in decline continue this species could be lost from Britain within 30 years.
The North American signal crayfish and the disease ‘crayfish plague’ that they carry is the single biggest cause of the dramatic decline
You can help in many ways
With your help we can continue to protect precious chalkstreams for the benefit of endangered wildlife and people of all ages who value the area’s outstanding natural beauty.
Prevent the spread of diseases
Crayfish plague is the main cause for the loss of white-clawed crayfish populations. By checking, cleaning, disinfecting and drying your equipment and boots you can help to prevent the spread of diseases between sites.
See full details below for preventing the spread of diseases
Report sightings of protected species
Landowners and managers
Landowners and managers can get support to learn how to manage land sympathetically for these species and to learn what in-channel and floodplain features are beneficial for aquatic invertebrates and other chalk river species.
Become a member
Preventing the spread of diseases
By following these four simple steps you can reduce the spread of invasive species and the diseases they carry, and thereby help to protect precious wildlife.
Check before leaving a site that you don't have any small animals or plant fragments on your equipment and remove any that are present. If introducing fish or plants into your river, lake or pond, are you sure that it isn't from a donor site that harbours these diseases?
Clean any mud, dirt or stones from your boots. Do this before leaving site where possible but always well away from a new watercourse.
3. Disinfect / Hot water
If feasible soak your equipment in a disinfectant or water above 45°C, this steps is all the more important if you know you are taking wet equipment to a new site.
Completely drying your equipment in direct sunlight for 24-48 hours kills all waterborne organisms and diseases.
Diseases are of particular concern as they can readily be transmitted on equipment such as boots, nets and boats. This problem is intensified by the fact that diseases can remain alive out of water for days or even weeks if the equipment stays wet!
For more information or advice on planning and implementing crayfish related or general bio-security measures please contact Ben Rushbrook, Senior Ecologist on 01489 774421 or at firstname.lastname@example.org