Test & Itchen

Catchment partnership vision

Our vision is a healthy water environment which is valued and nurtured by residents, businesses, and the wider community. The River Test and River Itchen are two of the most famous ‘chalk streams’ in the world. Chalk streams are a globally rare type of river, famed for their crystal clear waters which support a wide range of plants and animals. More than half of the world’s chalk streams are found in southern England alone. The Test and Itchen catchment isn’t just important for our native wildlife, it also provides us with our water for drinking and growing crops. It also carries our treated waste water to the sea, provides natural protection from flooding and contributes towards the local economy through attracting tourism, recreation and local businesses.

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.

• Test and Itchen Catchment Partnership webpage
• Catchment Management Plans on CaBA website

Partnership success highlights 2016 to 2021

The Catchment Partnerships diverse and committed membership has proven to be one of our most valuable assets for securing multiple organisations funding to support actions which benefit our natural environment. The successful development and £3 million grant secured through the National Lottery Hedge Fund to deliver the Watercress and Winterbournes scheme clearly demonstrates the value and effectiveness of our partnership. With funding now in place, our partners have already implemented projects to improve riverine habitats in the Pillhill Brook and Bourne Rivulet to reduce land based sediment impacts on the Candover Brook and progress with community engagement during some very challenging times. Engaging with a range of stakeholders has improved our project successes the last 6 years, including agri-environment based schemes with farmers, reducing flood risk using natural flood management techniques, and reducing the impact of invasive non-native species in our rivers. The award winning Test and Itchen River Restoration Strategy has been supported by the partnership to restore multiple kilometres of river habitats. Alongside the Watercress & Winterbournes project, the Test and Itchen Drought Resilience Fund continues to support measures which help us to understand, protect and enhance our chalk streams which are at risk of deteriorating in the face of our rapidly changing climate.

Partnership development plans

Secure a stable financial model built on long term investment from key catchment stakeholders to support the partnership and upscale the ability afforded to our host organisations. Integration of our stakeholder's plans and strategies with those of the partnership, including the Solent marine environment. Overseeing the prioritisation and creation of nature based solutions to restore river and floodplain habitats, reduce flood and drought impacts, and improve water quality.