Campaigners from the Wensum Riverkin warn Norfolk’s River Wensum, a protected chalk stream, is in long-term decline amid low flows, pollution and a summer drought. Hundreds of dead fish were found after a heatwave that reduced dissolved oxygen, and campaigners report silted spawning riffles and nutrient-driven plant growth. River temperatures reached nearly 25°C versus the roughly 10°C typical of chalk streams, and the Environment Agency is enforcing abstraction licences while partners work on habitat restoration. Locals say more urgent action is needed to protect the river.
Campaigners Warn Norfolk’s River Wensum Is Fading as Drought and Pollution Bite
Tim Ellis, a member of the Wensum Riverkin, fears for the future of the river, which he says has faced years of decline [Owen Sennitt/BBC]
Campaigners who have watched the River Wensum for decades say the protected chalk stream is in long-term decline and face mounting concern as a summer drought and persistent pollution stress the watercourse.
Members of the Wensum Riverkin, a local conservation group, told reporters that sections of the river in Norfolk are suffering from exceptionally low flows, rising water temperatures and sediment and nutrient run-off. The Wensum is one of roughly 250 chalk rivers worldwide — rare habitats that support high biodiversity and are often compared to the UK’s ecological treasures.
Tim Ellis says silt from a section of river is clogging up the gravel beds where fish spawn [Owen Sennitt/BBC]
The river rises between Colkirk and Whissonsett and flows about 46 miles (75 km) to Norwich. It is designated both a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), but campaigners say legal protections have not prevented long-term decline.
At a stretch between Lenwade and Lyng, campaigners described how riffles — shallow, gravelly areas where fish spawn — are being choked by silt and fine sediment washed from farmland, roads and other surface runoff. Dense growths of bur reed on some banks point to elevated nitrate and phosphate levels linked to agricultural and urban pollution.
Local TV crews filmed the moment the riffle was made in the early 1990s on a stretch of the river between Lyng and Lenwade [Owen Sennitt/BBC]
Tim Ellis, who has visited the Wensum for more than 40 years, said: 'We think it's really sad that the river we've cherished for many years is just fading in front of our eyes.'
Hundreds of dead fish were found washed up in parts of Norwich on Saturday. The Environment Agency attributed the mortalities in part to the recent heatwave, noting that high air and water temperatures can significantly reduce dissolved oxygen and that heavy rain can flush contaminants from surface drains into rivers.
Campaigner Jeremy Hadaway recorded water temperatures close to 25°C during the heatwave — far above the roughly 10°C typically found in healthy chalk rivers. Higher temperatures reduce dissolved oxygen, concentrate nutrients and amplify stress on aquatic life. Blue-green algal blooms have also been reported in parts of the region, further raising the risk of oxygen depletion.
Jeremy Hadaway said the river temperature was much hotter than it should be, which could harm aquatic life [Owen Sennitt/BBC]
East Anglia has experienced one of its driest five-month periods in 150 years, the Environment Agency said, leaving surface water flows and levels lower than normal. As a result, the agency is enforcing licence conditions on about 250 abstraction holders across the region and working with partners to restore chalk stream habitats and reduce sediment run-off.
Water companies have introduced restrictions: a hosepipe ban has applied to Anglian Water customers since mid-July, and Essex & Suffolk Water has also implemented measures. An Anglian Water spokesperson said the company has been 'committed to reducing our abstraction levels to protect the environment — especially precious chalk streams such as the River Wensum' and noted the company does not abstract from the upper Wensum, though it does take water further downstream near Norwich.
Local anglers and residents recall a time when the Wensum was a prime fishing river. Chris Turnbull, an angler who moved to Norfolk in the 1980s, said the river has 'declined pretty much in every way you could imagine,' citing far fewer roach and poorer fishing overall.
Campaigners are calling for more urgent and joined-up action: better enforcement of pollution controls, improved farm and road run-off management, targeted habitat restoration to clear and protect spawning riffles, and measures to reduce abstraction during droughts. The Environment Agency says it is taking steps to address these issues, but locals insist stronger, faster measures are needed to safeguard the river’s future.
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