Wandle
Catchment partnership vision
A naturally functioning and self-sustaining chalk river rich in biodiversity and a haven for Londoners.
Related websites
Find out more about the activities and ambitions of this catchment partnership and how you can get involved to help improve the water environment in the catchment.
Catchment challenges
Current challenges identified by partnership
Physical modifications
An industrial past and urban catchment has resulted in a highly modified channel with many barriers to fish passage
Changes to the natural flow and water levels
The Wandle is susceptible to low flows
Pollution from towns, cities and transport
Road run-off and sewer misconnections impact on water quality
Wider water environment challenges identified by partnership
Nature Recovery, protect and enhance rare habitats including chalk streams
Restoration work addressing physical modifications and flow is needed to support species-diverse assemblages typical for lowland chalk streams
Connecting communities with nature
As an urban river flowing through numerous public green spaces, river Wandle offers valuable education and engagement opportunities
Reduce storm overflows and drainage system incidents
Through citizen science programmes, such as Outfall Safari, the partnerships will continue to work towards addressing sources of pollution
Nature Recovery, designated areas for nature and biodiversity
Populations of migratory fish, such as eels, brown trout and smelt in Thames would benefit from improving connectivity and habitat along river Wandle
Support Nature Recovery Network and Local Nature Recovery Strategy
Future challenges predicted by partnership
Pollution from towns, cities and transport
Wandle is running through densely populated urban areas, with associated transport networks and extensive areas of impermeable surfaces
Changes to the natural flow and water levels
Flow and water levels are impacted by abstraction, local augmentation system, final effluent input from WTW, as well as large volume of surface runoff following adverse weather
Pollution from waste water
Frequent discharges from CSOs, pollution events linked to Beddington WTW as well domestic misconnections resulting from more frequent storm events and population pressure
Future challenges predicted by Environment Agency
Future challenges in 2050
- Pollution from Towns Cities and Transport
- Invasive Non-native Species
- Changes to the Natural Flow and Water Levels
Emerging challenges
- Changes to the Natural Flow and Water Levels
- Pollution from waste water
- Pollution from Towns Cities and Transport
Partnership success highlights 2016 to 2021
Since 2016 partners in the Wandle catchment have completed a wide range of projects that have improved the river and its surrounding green spaces, benefiting both people and wildlife:
- fish passage along the river has been enhanced through the installation of numerous eel and fish passes, with complete weir removal taking place at the mouth of the river in Wandsworth
- flood risk in the catchment has been reduced with the completion of a flood alleviation scheme and the installation of rain gardens and sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS) planters
- citizen science projects have helped to identify pollution, record invasive non-native species (INNS) and monitor populations of invertebrates
- volunteers have given thousands of hours to assist with habitat management, river enhancement projects, and removal of litter and plastic pollution
- partners have successfully eradicated giant hogweed from the banks of the river and continue to work collaboratively to deliver the invasive non-native species (INNS) strategy for the catchment.
Partnership development plans
Looking forward, the partnership would like to develop an action plan for community engagement and improve access along the Wandle, and to update the Catchment Plan. We hope to encourage active participation from all partners and stakeholders, sharing expertise and resources to facilitate joined up working that addresses issues at a catchment scale.
Partnership priority actions and measures for 2022 to 2027
Confident
Enhancement/no deterioration measures in 2020-2025 Water Industry National Environment Programme
- Reason for measure
- Control or manage point source discharges
- Delivery mechanism
- Confirmed water industry national environment programme 2020-2025
- Location
- Wandle
Confident
Fish passage and river restoration at Richmond Green
- Reason for measure
- Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters
- Delivery mechanism
- Developer funded
- Location
- Wandle (Croydon to Wandsworth) and the Graveney
Confident
Volunteer initiatives: Outfall Safari, Riverfly monitoring initiative, invasive non-native species surveys, river clean-ups, restoration projects
- Reason for measure
- Manage modified habitats
- Delivery mechanism
- Voluntary initiatives
- Location
- Wandle (Croydon to Wandsworth) and the Graveney Wandle (Carshalton Branch at Carshalton)
Confident
Goat Bridge Weir fish passage project
- Reason for measure
- Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters
- Delivery mechanism
- Confirmed water industry national environment programme 2020-2025
- Location
- Wandle (Croydon to Wandsworth) and the Graveney
Confident
Shepley Mill Fish pass
- Reason for measure
- Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters
- Delivery mechanism
- Confirmed water industry national environment programme 2020-2025
- Location
- Wandle (Croydon to Wandsworth) and the Graveney
Less certain
King George's Park: physical changes to improve water flow, add habitat opportunities and increase public access
- Reason for measure
- Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters
- Delivery mechanism
- Other local funding
- Barriers to delivery
- Funding confirmation required
- Location
- Wandle (Croydon to Wandsworth) and the Graveney
Less certain
Beddington Park: habitat and connectivity improvements
- Reason for measure
- Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters
- Delivery mechanism
- Potential future water industry programme
- Barriers to delivery
- Feasibility study into options required
- Location
- Wandle (Croydon to Wandsworth) and the Graveney
Less certain
Invasive non-native species (INNS) management
- Reason for measure
- Control or manage invasive non-native species
- Delivery mechanism
- Other local funding
- Barriers to delivery
- Funding confirmation required
- Location
- Wandle (Croydon to Wandsworth) and the Graveney Wandle (Carshalton Branch at Carshalton)
Less certain
Enhancement/no deterioration measures in 2026-2030 Water Industry National Environment Programme
- Reason for measure
- Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters
- Delivery mechanism
- Potential future water industry programme
- Barriers to delivery
- Feasibility studies
- Location
- Wandle (Croydon to Wandsworth) and the Graveney Wandle (Carshalton Branch at Carshalton)
Catchment Partnership contributors
Partners involved in the creation of this page and the actions of the partnership: