The Upper Kennet 'winterbourne' extension

A snapshot looking at the Upper Kennet from George Bridge (just south off the A4 at SU 132 684) over the last couple of years might suggest that at least 4km of the main river below Swallowhead should now be regarded as a seasonal winterbourne in its own right.

The view today.  The rainfall accumulation record for the region for January to September 2010 shows a below average figure (only 93% of the 1971-2000 average), and for the last quarter to date this area has also been fairly dry, so is this an unusual scene for the time of year?

In early January 2009 (before the gate replaced an old barbed wire fence) the river displayed a reasonably healthy level...

...and whilst by the end of August 2009 it was once more parched...

...by this time last year flows had returned (mid-December 2009). 

2010 started out by adding still higher levels (mid-January 2010)...

...but, although there was still water in mid-June 2010,...

...the bed was dry again by the end of August, which it is how it has stayed up to today.

The River Kennet is now dry until a trickle of water is added by springs near Lockeridge (the new perrenial head), but even then it remains a shadow of what might be expected during winter.  The official record shows that from January to September 2010 the river flow accumulation for the Kennet as a whole was marginally above the long term average, but with "precipitation levels [...] generally expected to be close to or slightly below average" for the rest of the winter, that position might not be repeated next year.

Newbury Flood Alleviation Scheme (FAS) planned

To face the risk of a one-in-a-100-year (a 1% chance in any year) flood event in Newbury, provisional new plans have been laid out for consultation and comment by the Environment Agency.

Proposals forming part of the response to the 2005 Kennet Flood Risk Management Strategy will be appraised and selected for submission as a business case in March 2011, but the final determination as to whether the project will proceed will be made on the basis of its priority by comparison to other flood alleviation schemes across the country. A public exhibition of the proposals will be held in Newbury in February 2010.

The initial intention is to protect around 370 residential and 80 commercial properties, but in urging people to sign up to the EA's updated flood warning alert service on 29 November 2010, local MP Richard Benyon (and the Coalition Minister with responsibility for flood alleviation) noted that “There are 2,525 properties at risk of fluvial flooding in the Newbury constituency".  A more detailed map of the wider risk from Newbury down to Thatcham is available here.

In terms of the effects of any adopted plan on paddling on the start of the lower reach, there is probably little difference that would be noticed on a day to day basis.  Most of the proposals appear to involve raising towpath levels slightly along the side of the Navigation, and building walls or embankments to protect specific areas of low lying housing or grassed park.

The section of the floodplain between the A34 and the disused Lambourn Valley railway (c.240m to the west of the boat launch slip at the edge of Northcroft recreation grounds) is proposed to provide a compensatory storage area around the Speen Moors Plantation,using the remaining embankment as a semi-permeable bund wall.  Whilst water levels could be raised up to 2m in this 'holding' area during one-in 20-year flood event or higher risk periods, this would require a special structure that could be lowered into the River Kennet where it breaches the embankment [SU 459 671], and probable new embankment building to the south of this area to prevent bypassing re-entry of flood water to the Kennet & Avon Canal.

The stanchions in the river mark all that remains of where the Lambourn Valley Railway crossed the River Kennet west of Newbury.

This is not the most readily accessible area to undertake such works but should they proceed it would potentially bar the end of the riverine Kennet run down from Benham Weir (should you be considering exploring the new 'lake-scape' during such floods).

Just above the line of the old railway (note the flood plain beyond the river) is a riverwide bar, presumably intended to prevent navigation further upstream.  In normal water levels you can paddle over it river right...

...in lower water levels you can squeeze under the bar river left.  The proposed Newbury FAS might negate the need for this effort during periods of potential flooding.

Canoe and kayak retailers for paddling on the Kennet

So you have the river, and you might now need some kit to get on it... 

The following retailers are all on the doorstep or within a reasonable travelling distance, and offer a range of equipment that will provide you with everything you need to go canoeing and kayaking on the River Kennet, so, in no particular order of preference,... 


Berkshire Canoes

Address: The Boat Yard, Scours Lane, Tilehurst, Reading, Berkshire, RG30 6AY

Tel: 0118 942 5640

E-mail: sales@berkshire-canoes.co.uk
Website: www.berkshire-canoes.co.uk/

Marsport Limited
Address: Thames Valley Park Drive, Reading, West Berkshire RG6 1PQ

Tel: 0118 966 5912
E-mail: info@marsport.co.uk  
Website: http://www.marsport.co.uk/


Riverside Centre Oxford
Address: Donnington Bridge, Oxford, OX4 4AZ

Tel: 01865 248 673 
Contact: click here
Website: http://www.riversideoxford.co.uk/home/

The Family Adventure Store
Address: The Old Farrel House, Hilperton, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 7PJ.

Tel: 01225 768630
E-mail: info@familyadventurestore.co.uk
Website: www.familyadventurestore.co.uk/catalog/top_index.php


Whitewater The Canoe Centre
Address: Shepperton Marina, Shepperton, Middlesex, TW17 8NS.

Tel: 01932 247 978
E-mail: info@wwtcc.com
Online shop: www.whitewaterthecanoecentre.co.uk/shop/home.php


Woodmill Canoe Shop
Address: Woodmill Outdoor Activites Centre, Woodmill Lane, Swaythling, Southampton, SO18 2JR.

Tel: 023 8091 5740
E-mail: info@woodmill.co.uk
Website: www.woodmill.co.uk/canoe-shop

Note: the author of the blog has no formal association with any of the businesses described.  Having used 4 out of the 6 companies listed above for various items all have been helpful and pleasant to deal with (and I have no reason to think the others would be any different).

How low can it go?

WARNING: You are about to view the sad recording of some unscientifically sampled statistics...

Pictures and graphs for November 2010, reinforcing the fact that despite the horrible floods in Cornwall and concern at the raised river levels elsewhere in the UK this month, the seasonal flow of the River Kennet reflects a more constant geological delivery of water... 


It's not really paddling territory, but the gauged levels at Eddington (Hungerford) give an indication of inflow from the upper reach of the River Kennet before it is artificially corrupted by confluence with the water provided by the interwoven Kennet and Avon Canal beyond Kintbury on the middle reach.  Despite the fact that it was spotting with rain when this picture was taken (06 November 2010), and the subsequent grey days and occasional precipitation that followed in November, the chalk downs have clearly been quenching their aquifer's thirst after a dry Summer and Autumn in the central south of England.

The river level gauge at Eddington.  The typical range is between 0.39m and 0.8m. Between 05 and 23 November 2010 a random sampling of 16 reported levels at various times on various days showed an average level of only 0.38m.  The previous image relates to a gauge measurement of 0.37m (i.e. below the minimum norm).

An easy way to check the level of the Kennet Navigation through Newbury is to check the boarding around the midstream stanchion of Newbury's 'fishbone' bridge, shown here at around 4.97m. If paddling on the K&A minimum levels are maintained for narrow boat passage, but low levels will mean no play downstream at the sluice overflow below the A339 road bridge.

The river level gauge at Newbury.  The typical range is only between 4.94m and 5.16m. Between 05 and 23 November 2010 a random sampling of 22 reported levels at various times on various days showed an average level of only 4.96m (although this figure is slightly distorted by a reading of a 10cm drop yesterday; maybe someone left a lock open).

The gauging station at Theale (Barbel Bar), which is located towards the end of Arrowhead Road.  The old carpet changing mat at the back of the station disappeared this year - if you're currently redecorating...

Barbel Bar at a low flow of c.0.27m...

...Note the small outflow pipe hole on the far bank wall that is visible at such a low level.

The get-out is river left just below the weir wall, and at this low level looks like this. 

Just in case you doubt the opportunity for training at the mighty Barbel Bar at better flows.

The river level gauge at Theale (Barbel Bar). The typical range is between 0.23m and 0.83m. Between 05 and 20 November 2010 a random sampling of 21 reported levels showed an average level of only 0.30m.

Time for some rain.

Waterside, Thameside and DW canoe and kayak races in 2011

The annual Waterside and Thameside series of races on the Kennet and Avon Canal should have little impact on any users the riverine sections of the waterway, but as it is necessary to use the canal to access certain sections of the river please note the following dates and locations when you may encounter canoe and kayak racing (although there is also plenty of training carried out in the six months prior to the Devizes to Westminster race).

- Sunday 27 February 2011: Waterside A - this will only affect you if you are paddling in Newbury (the finish line is by the Waterside Centre). Watch out for swimmers.

The Waterside Series finish line in Newbury in 2009.  Don't bother trying to park at Newbury Quay on race days.

- Sunday 6 March 2011: Thameside 1 - from Aldermaston Bridge to the Thames along the canalised route.

- Sunday 13 March 2011: Waterside B - from downstream of the A339 road bridge in Newbury to Aldermaston Wharf and back.

- Sunday 27 March 2011: Waterside C - this will again only affect you if you are paddling upstream of the Newbury Waterside Centre finish line.

- Sunday 10 April 2010: Waterside D - as for Waterside C.

- Friday 22 - Monday 25 April 2011 (the Easter Bank Holiday): the Devizes to Westminster Race - obviously it will be the Friday and Saturday that will affect the Kennet.

Dates for the 2012 Waterside series are as follows:

- Race A 12th February 2012
- Race B 26th February 2012
- Race C 11th March 2012
- Race D 25th March 2012

"Lower Benyons mass canoe invasion"

Whilst looking at the websites referring to this blog this morning, I noticed that one of the URLs was from Barbel Fishing World (BFW).  Whilst following the direct link revealed a brick wall in the shape of a membership fee requirement for access to the specific reference, a little further browsing led to an interesting forum thread from last February, which serves as microcosm of the debate over access to the River Kennet for paddlers and the range of views held by anglers on this issue.

The thread, titled "Lower Benyons mass canoe invasion", began with a post that described how, on Friday 19.02.10 (the end of the half term holiday), "a group of 15 canoes/kayaks"*, identified as having been from Newbury's Adventure Dolphin organisation, "came over" Sulhamstead Weir and proceeded to navigate along the 940m loop that rejoins the canal just below Sulhamstead Lock. 
                                                          *good to see the distinction being recognised ;-)

Sulhamstead Weir from the right bank of the riverine section at higher water levels (early March 2010).

Known to local anglers as the 'Lower Benyons' after the landowner from whom the Reading and District Anglers Association (RDAA) lease the fishing rights at this location, the thread continued with opinions expressed and questioning of the right of the paddlers to navigate this riverine section of the Kennet and, somewhat unusually, also just about managed to differentiate the issue of rights of access to the banks (for such as portaging the weir).

Comments ranged from the predictable 'humour' of "A length of piano wire at neck height maybe?" (complete with a smiley emoticon) to the more progressive opinion that stated "the simple fact is we [fishermen] need to get along with all water users".  Perhaps most notable
was the post stating that "they [the paddlers] [...] have a sound argument and we rely on outdated laws to keep them from 98% of our rivers", a point reinforced by the response that "The point is, they are not "our rivers", in most cases we simply lease the rights to fish, there is absolutely nothing in any leasing contracts I have seen which gives exclusive use of the water in question".

After several days in which the usual themes and arguments of exclusivity and 'ownship' were made and even rebutted as above, it was clear that the contributors were in no better a position to provide a definitive, objective statement of navigation rights for this section of the Kennet than anyone else to date (see the post describing British Waterway's view that the Environment Agency is responsible for navigation of the non-canalised Kennet here).

In lieu of a firm legal position being available at this time - and in opposition to the type of outdated, illogical and inflammatory rant offered by such as the Angling Trust in their "Pay Up or Shut Up" statement, or the evasive hedging offered by the British Canoe Union in their contribution to its members' concerns about recreational navigation rights - the following notes and thoughts on simple informal and mutually respectful consideration are offered for canoeing and kayaking on the Kennet at Sulhamstead and elsewhere on the river.

1. There is a recognised right of navigation and access along the Kennet Navigation (the canalised section of the River Kennet between Newbury and Reading).  A licence is required to paddle here and is available from British Waterways (please note that at the time of writing it is not known how the recently announced abolition of British Waterways may affect this position).  Alternatively, membership of the British Canoe Union covers this fee.

2. There is a public footpath across the bridge over Sulhamstead Weir that continues river left for about half way around the loop (see map image below).  The left bank is also a popular beat for RDAA and affiliated fishing clubs.  Note that in the broad section immediately below the weir and before the river bends to the right, the main channel is river left, and that the river right can be quite shallow in low water periods.  This is not an issue during better flows.  If you want to know if the 'Lower Benyons' beat is likely to be occupied during your passage you can check out the bookings here.

Sulhamstead Weir and the riverine loop of the Kennet.  Note the public footpath (marked by a green dashed line) that passes across the bridge above the weir and river left for the first half of this section.  [Image produced from Ordnance Survey's Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.]

Shallow water river right downstream from Sulhamstead Weir in September 2010...

...and similar conditions from July 2009.

In higher flow rates there is plenty of depth to keep river right; the view looking back upstream from river left just below Sulhamstead Weir, early March 2010.

3. In describing the behaviour of the group from Adventure Dolphin, the original BFW poster on the thread referred to at the start of this post later commented that it was "mostly beyond reproach. [...] they offered to, and did, get out, carry their boats past me and re-launch just below...[...]. The few anglers below me, after being politely asked, allowed them to pass unchallenged. [...]...but they caused no visible damage."  Whilst portaging is by no means obligatory, such polite consideration might be welcomed. 

The landowner, Richard Benyon MP, has previously stated in writing that "my family are riparian owners of a stretch of the Kennet. The angling is controlled and managed by Reading and District Anglers Association who seem to live quite comfortably with access to this stretch of this Kennet by river craft who use the Kennet, and the canal, at various points."

Portaging may also be required further along this section for reason of avoiding the strainers produced by the trees that seem to frequently fall into the river here.

Note: the author of this blog has no association with Adventure Dolphin or any of the fishing organisations referred to in this post.

Kennet spawning grounds at risk

The attraction of our waterways to bicycles and shopping trolleys has long been recognised, but the continuing low levels along the riverine and non-canalised sections of the lower Kennet has now revealed a new group of water users.  Pub chairs. 

This latest addition to the list of groups seeking greater access to English and Welsh rivers has thus far only been confirmed at one location, but suspicions remain that this anti-social element has been indulging in nefarious waterside activities, with evidence cited in the shape of the growing number of beer can spraints that can be found alongside the Kennet.

A spokesperson for the trolleys has stated that SAFFA (the Supermarket Assisted Four-wheel Furniture Act) legislation may be used to stop pub chairs from damaging environmentally sensitive spawning grounds.

Shopping trolleys spawn undisturbed in the shallow water gravel bed of a River Kennet side stream in July 2009.

Navigation of the River Kennet by a pub chair prevents a trolley from emerging from its gravel nest site in August 2010.

Pub chairs have been associated with beer can droppings along the banks of the River Kennet.

After dumping, young supermarket trolleys make their way downstream on their side where they are at risk from fringe extremist wing backs who may show a blatant disregard for the trolleys' inability to get out of the way.

Related to more cumbersome four-wheeled species, bicycles also find it difficult to manouever on their sides in water, and are prone to damage from passing motorised La-Z-Boys or speeding armchairs.

Too low to go at the end of the Middle and start of the Lower reaches

With the low level of the River Kennet making the BBC's online news last week, and the EA's new web-based river level reporting service having been offline for most of time since then, a quick visual inspection at a couple of riverine locations today produced the unsurprising confirmation that it's getting too low to go.

The unnaturally exacerbated seasonal flow variation that sees the winterbournes and increasingly extended sections of the Upper Kennet all but dry up from this time of year until replenishment of the chalk aquifer with autumn and winter rainfall, has been compounded by the long dry first half of 2010 in the Kennet Valley and is now affecting the Middle and Lower reaches. 

Despite flowing along separate courses below the first confluence with the Kennet and Avon canal, some of the sections that would normally provide alternative paddling routes eastward are looking decidedly untenable.

The headroom under the bridge at SU 452 669, where a public footpath crosses between the western edge of Newbury and up to Speen towards the end of the paddling Middle reach, has increased, but the water level would probably also fail to keep you floating over the concrete base without contact (the channel river left is the only route not blocked by debris).  It is indicative of the conditions likely to be encountered all the way down the otherwise paddleable section from Benham Weir.

...whilst entering the pool below, gravel banks and bars are barely concealed by the reduced water levels.

Just beyond the start of the Middle reach in Newbury, on the mill stream that runs down from Northroft sluice weir, the pipe that crosses the river at SU 468 671 could be easily 'ducked', but even with an additional inflow from the canal river right just above this point, the water is now only knee deep at best.

In the current knee-deep conditions paddling in the middle of the watercourse does not require a kayak.

Looking back upstream, the silt covered river bed beyond the gravel and the overhanging willows is just a few inches deep.

River Kennet restoration near Hungerford

One of the largest restoration projects on the upper Kennet was completed between October 2009 and March 2010, when the hydromorphology of a 2km stretch of the river downstream of Denford was extensively remodelled in 11 sections by Cain Bio-Engineering Ltd., funded by the Environment Agency and Natural England.  A case study from the contractor can be found here.

Starting at the first section, a stroll downstream between the river and the canal at The Gatehouse, just to the east of Hungerford where the River Dun joins a branch of the River Kennet at SU 352 682, demonstrates some of the remedial river engineering techniques that have been applied, but just in case you thought it might be a worth having a closer look at this relaxing and beautiful place by means of a gentle summer paddle...

New fencing, but the same old sign.  Access rights are restricted by antiquated 'laws' that uniquely protect the rights of "commoners" over the general public (this will be the subject of  future post)...

...but the swans don't care.

At the end of June 2010 it was still possible to identify man's hand (or at least his vehicle's tracks) in the restoration process.

Ranunculus growth is the sign of a healthy chalk stream; more would always be welcome.  The new fencing is to protect the banks from erosion during periods of grazing by "commoners".

Scarlet Tiger moths inhabit the edge of the river in the early evening sunshine.

Narrowing of the channel with bank reinforcement has increased the flow rate and, together with such as the deposition of large woody debris (LWD) with combined in-stream willow growth, it is clearing silt and algae from the bottom to leave 'gin-clear' water in which trout are readily spotted (this is probably not such a good thing if you are a trout, but I'm sure they appreciate the improved water quality).

Flood overflow pools help maintain the margins...

...but just after you pass this sign (to remind you who's paying for all the work) by the style over the fencing...

...you reach this bridge and the start of the Avington Estate.

From this point your view of the further sections of the restored River Kennet depend on your eyesight.

I have no complaint that money is being spent on restoring the quality of a classic chalk stream river before it is destroyed (and the EU rubs salt in the wound of our loss by fining the UK for the neglected state of our waterways).  

The bit that sticks in the throat here is simply that the majority of the restoration works are inaccessible to the public who have paid for them via taxation from which the EA and NE is funded.  Whilst, in the broadest general sense, we all benefit from the revitalisation of our chalk stream rivers, and it is not questioned that this section of the Kennet appears to have been substantively improved by these innovative works, private fisheries are effectively receiving direct economic benefit from those they exclude.  If you think this is possibly iniquitous, you might also want to note that the contractor, Cain Bio-Engineering, is a founding member of the Wild Trout Trust.

On-line river level guide for the River Kennet

The launch of the Environment Agency's on-line river level reporting service for England and Wales, which makes use of the national network of gauging stations to augment flood warnings, also offers paddlers planning to travel to the River Kennet the opportunity to remotely view current conditions before leaving home. 
The Kennet gauges are located at

• Winterbourne Monkton on the upper Upper reach
• Marlborough on the Upper reach   
• Knighton - two gauges on the Upper reach between Ramsbury and Chilton Foliat
• Eddington at Hungerford where the Middle reach starts
• Newbury on the Lower reach
• Theale (Barble Bar) on the Lower reach 
• Blakes Lock, Reading on the Lower reach not far from The Thames confluence.

There are a further 12 gauges reporting the flow for the Kennet tributaries of the Og, the Aldbourne, the Dun, the Shalbourne, the Lambourn, the Winterbourne, Kingsclere Brook, the Enborne, and the Foudry Brook.

However, only the last three of the main River Kennet gauges are of much use to paddlers, in that they are located on sections of the river where paddling is generally viable, and only Theale gives a good river level indication in terms of partial independence from the water of the canalised Navigation.

The Theale gauge currently shows the river to be significantly low within a bandwidth of typical range, but, hey, it's summer and it hasn't rained much recently.

The Kennet with low water levels at the Theale gauging station at the end of June 2010, but Barble Bar is still going.