River Hiz Conservation Group

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River Hiz Conservation Group

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A conservation group working together to monitor, restore and improve the River Hiz Chalk Stream and its tributaries

19/10/2026

This is well worth a look at. The latest report by the Rivers Trust https://theriverstrust.org/state-of-our-The Rivers Trust

16/10/2026

Some of our members take part in regular surveying of the riverfly population of the Hiz and its tributaries. This provides a very valuable indication of the health of water.
In this week's survey, the river at Cadwell Lane scored an 8, based on the number and variety of beasts caught in the sampling. That's nothing to write home about but not too bad.
Here's a lovely damselfly larva caught in the sampling.

02/10/2026

Two people, 40 minutes - six sacks of litter collected from the river behind Cadwell playing fields.

30/09/2026

A little egret - maybe the one that is sometimes seen in the river behind Sainsbury's - decided to spend the morning in the basin in front of St. Mary's. Very brave for a species that is usually rather timid.

26/09/2026

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjr4v7pex3zeo

Conservationists say they have created "shaggy cover" on the River Hiz at Ickleford for the trout.

14/09/2026

Another RHCG work party completed today, assisting the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and R J BULL, Environmental Contractors with their river improvement project at Ickleford Common.

Several in river flow deflectors were constructed by our brilliant volunteers. These structures improve water flow, by creating meanders, pools and riffles that can help scour the river bed to expose natural gravels, improving trout spawning habitat, and shelter for other wildlife.

If you are interested in volunteering with us please message us here, or email [email protected]

04/09/2026

If you are on our mailing list, you will know that the Wildlife Trust has commissioned more work on the Hiz at and around Ickleford Common. One of the aims is to enhance the water flow in order to maintain and improve the scouring that produces the gravel beds that are a marker of a chalk stream. This improves the environment for the wildlife, including the trout that spawn in the gravel.
Work has already commenced with a number of willows pollarded to improve light on the water and provide brash for use in building the flow deflectors like the one shown below.

28/08/2026

Yesterday's biblical downpour not only flooded the roads, it also brought a mass of sewage into the Hiz as Anglian Water's facilities failed to cope with the surge of rainwater.
The treatment plant at St. Ippolyts, the holding tank at Bancroft and the discharge pipe at Burymead all released sewage for a couple of hours. The Hiz and its tributaries were not alone. Pix Brooke, the Beane and the Hit also suffered. Indeed, take a look at https://www.sewagemap.co.uk/
type in a local postcode and then zoom in or out to see just how filth went into so many local streams, endangering the wildlife, farm animals, dogs and people who use our rivers.
With a major El Nino event forthcoming this autumn and with the impact of climate change more and more obvious every passing season, yesterday's deluge will not be a one-off but a foretaste.
We will be asking Anglian for a meeting so we can understand what they plan to do to prevent pollution of our internationally important chalk streams. It is increasingly clear that the decades of water company under-investment cannot continue.

06/08/2026

Not great news on a national level, but the RHCG are actively involved in water quality testing to record, monitor and report issues on the Hiz and its tributaries. Also, good to see a government led drive for improvement as well. Water companies take note!

A comprehensive assessment of England's waterways is the first in six years and shows little improvement.

01/08/2026

Spot of the week.
Thanks to Phil, one of our volunteer surveyors, for this photograph of the weird and wonderful caterpillar of the pebble prominent moth. The adult is common but the caterpillar is just strange. This one spotted near the river around Charlton.

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Ickleford

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https://twitter.com/RiverHiz

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