The theme this year, Wetlands Action for People and Nature, highlights the importance of actions to ensure the conservation of wetlands for human and planetary health.

In Surrey, the Wildlife Trust is celebrating the work of the Wey Landscape Partnership, Friends of Flood Meadows, Friends of the River Wey volunteers and Alton Council in restoring a 100-metre stretch of rare chalk stream habitat in Alton. The stream runs through Flood Meadows nature reserve and feeds the adjoining wetland, where chalk stream plants, moorhen and other wetland birds thrive.

Chalk springs rise from the ground at Flood Meadows in Alton, one of the two main sources of the River Wey.  So, the river and adjoining wetlands in Alton are ground water fed and become a very rare, and gin clear, chalk stream, which is one of the rarest habitats in the world.  These then feed into the River Wey and River Thames.

Flood Meadows became a passion project for Glen Skelton, wetlands project manager at Surrey Wildlife Trust, as he walked his dog past the stretch of river every day. In 2016, he noticed the river channel was too wide and straight, which was no good for in stream plants and wildlife. So, the partnership and volunteers narrowed the river and made it more winding, by creating berms in which plants could take hold. Trees and vegetation were cut back to allow light to reach the riverbank, which made a huge improvement.

In January 2022, Glen completed two months of work with the Friends of Flood Meadows to improve the stream further.  Alton Town council paid for 20 tonnes of gravel to be added into the stream and volunteers from the Alton Society distributed the gravel along the stretch of chalk stream. The gravel provided more habitat for invertebrates and an opportunity for plants like the water crow foot to take hold.

Glen Skelton said: ‘The Flood Meadows in Alton is wonderful project to celebrate World Wetlands Day to demonstrate not only how important the habitat is for adapting to climate change, but also because wetlands provide a refuge for river wildlife. The river and adjoining wetlands in this area help to recharge the groundwater sources to keep the streams like this flowing. In turn this river feeds the River Wey and then flows into the River Thames.’ 

Chalk stream habitat has a set of species suited to them, such as, the water crowfoot which will be planted in this 100-metre stretch and provide cover with yellow and white flowers in spring. Other species in chalk streams are caddisfly and mayflies and when the river has improved further fish such as brown trout and Miller’s Thumb, which will be able to feed on the invertebrates.

Glen added: ‘While this project is just over the border into Hampshire, it is a demonstration that nature recovery networks do not stop at county borders. We need to think in a more connected way, making sure the habitat is linked via healthy natural corridors through towns, cities and across counties.’