The Hambrook is an aquifer-fed, rare and precious, chalk stream that winds its way through the beautiful parishes of Westbourne, Southbourne and Chidham & Hambrook in West Sussex.
The stream is approximately 3 kilometers long, running from its source - the springs at Watercress beds in Hambrook, to where it flows out into Chichester Harbour at Nutbourne Marshes.
The catchment area of the Hambrook is not big but it is rich in biodiversity. Here you will find lots of rare and important wildlife such as the critically endangered European eel; Britain’s fastest declining mammal, the Water vole (losing 95% of its range over the last hundred years); elusive Kingfishers, Trout and Barbastelle bats - a distinctive species that are listed as Annex II species to the Singleton and Cocking Tunnels, which are designated Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) sites - and many, many more.
Not only is the catchment area rich in wildlife, the stream drains into the internationally important Chichester Harbour which is designated as a National Landscape. It is one of the most important sites for wildlife in the UK, as well as being an active harbour for water users, so the water quality here is paramount for both wildlife and humans alike.
Chichester Harbour has seen a dramatic loss in saltmarsh habitat - 58.8% of the historic extent of the saltmarsh in 1946 has been lost, with 46.5% of the saltmarsh being lost since the harbour was designated as a Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 1970. It estimates that on average, 2.54 hectares of saltmarsh (the equivalent of more than 3 football pitches in area) is still being lost every year across the harbour.
The Hambrook is one of less than 300 chalk streams and rivers in the world. These rivers and streams were described by the Chalk Stream Restoration Strategy (2021) as our equivalent to the Great Barrier Reef, holding ‘a truly special natural heritage with a responsibility’.
Sadly these streams are suffering from the effects of abstraction (water being taken for use in our homes and businesses), drought, pollution, habitat loss, and development. The Hambrook is no exception so it is vitally important that we take action now to help restore, protect and ready this precious stream for future challenges.
One of the biggest issues facing the Hambrook is the consented sewage discharge, which is north and south of the A259 road.
With generous funding secured from Chichester District Council, the Hambrook is one of three rivers which will benefit from our Chalk Stream Resilience project. Find out more here.
The Friends of the Hambrook
Established to protect, monitor and enhance the Hambrook catchment, The Friends of the Hambrook is a locally formed group of river enthusiasts who want to help restore the river, while also creating space for the rich diversity of species found here to expand their range and build in numbers. If you would like to get involved with this group please contact them directly via their Facebook page here - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561222443999&sk=about
Or if you would like to get involved with our plans to help the Hambrook thrive please contact Sarah Hughes at Sarah@arrt.org.uk