Thame

Catchment partnership vision

The partnership vision is to create a river catchment with healthy freshwaters and wildlife, valued and enjoyed by local people. We aim to work with local stakeholders to ensure the following objectives: increased understanding of the catchment's freshwater habitats and species improved water quality by addressing point and diffuse sources of pollution enhanced biodiversity in all freshwater habitats through habitat creation and restoration improved understanding and appreciation of the freshwater environment with local people and increased recognition of the freshwater environment in local planning frameworks.

Hedley Thorne

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

    Habitat destruction and degradation, and loss of connectivity leading to biodiversity loss

  • Pollution from agriculture and rural areas

    A intensively farmed landscape has meant there are widespread pressure on water quality

  • Pollution from waste water

    Regular pollution incidents from sewage treatment works and many unregulated private sewage treatment systems

Wider water environment challenges identified by partnership

  • Nature Recovery, designated areas for nature and biodiversity

    Loss of habitat and decline in freshwater species, in particular those reliant on good water quality

  • Support Nature Recovery Network and Local Nature Recovery Strategy

    Need for a collaborative approach to create a resilient landscape by connecting and expanding areas of high quality habitat

  • Nature Recovery, protect and enhance rare habitats including chalk streams

    Presence of rare chalk streams within the catchment with poor water quality, declining ecological health, and intense modification

  • Build environmental resilience and adaptation to climate change

    Negative impacts of climate disruption related to water (flooding, drought, severe weather) for wildlife and people

  • Reduce storm overflows and drainage system incidents

    Regular pollution incidents from sewage treatment works and many unregulated private sewage treatment systems

  • Connecting communities with nature

    Lack of awareness and appreciation of local watercourses and their importance to people and wildlife

Future challenges predicted by partnership

  • Physical modifications

  • Pollution from agriculture and rural areas

  • Pollution from waste water

Future challenges predicted by Environment Agency

Future challenges in 2050

  • Invasive Non-native Species
  • Pollution from waste water
  • Changes to the Natural Flow and Water Levels

Emerging challenges

  • Pollution from waste water
  • Changes to the Natural Flow and Water Levels
  • Pollution from Agriculture and Rural Areas

Partnership success highlights 2016 to 2021

  • Freshwater Habitats Trust (FHT) working with River Thame Conservation Trust (RTCT) in the Thame Catchment to create Floodplain Mosaic habitat at Manor Farm, Chearlsey as part of the Building Oxfordshire's Freshwater Network Project
  • FHT and Oxfordshire Fen Group restoring Site of special scientific interest Alkaline Fens - Spartum Fen
  • RTCT held the first Thame & Chilterns Farmers Forum, bringing together farmers and land managers of four farmer clusters (Thame Valley, Lower Thame, Central Chilterns, and Christmas Common) covering over 20,000 ha across 75 farms
  • RTCT eDNA sampling for brown trout and mammals in Horsenden stream and tributaries in advance of habitat enhancements and trout re-introduction
  • Restoration of 400m of habitat in the Chalgrove Brook by clearing vegetation to let in light, and building in-stream features from woody material (berms and deflectors), supported by volunteers from local environment groups and Thames Water
  • Chalgrove Brook a chalk stream film produced in partnership with Nicola Schafer and Watlington Climate Action Group, communicating the importance of chalk streams and how local communities can help protect them
  • Four years of surveying birds has culminated in the Thame Bird Atlas, to be published in early 2022. A partnership project led by Nick Marriner with BTO volunteers - has provided data helping to secure 2 new Local Wildlife Site designations to date
  • RTCT and FHT creation of Waddesdon wetland - a key partnership project that delivered 2 ha Floodplain Mosaic habitat, the first of its kind in the Thame catchment

Partnership development plans

We would like to continue to build momentum for the practical implementation of projects that meet partnership objectives, in particular focusing on improving biodiversity across the whole freshwater landscape, from the small waters to the main river. We hope to increase engagement with further stakeholders, encouraging active participation in the partnership and delivery of wider benefits to the water environment.

Partnership priority actions and measures for 2022 to 2027

  • Confident

    Thame chalk catchments, habitat and connectivity enhancement: Chalgrove, Horsenden and Lewknor

    Reason for measure
    Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters
    Delivery mechanism
    WEIF Water Environment Improvement Fund
    Location
    Chalgrove Brook

  • Confident

    Improvement of fish passage at first barriers on main River Thame back from the Thames: Dorchester

    Reason for measure
    Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters
    Delivery mechanism
    WEIF Water Environment Improvement Fund
    Location
    Thame (Scotsgrove Brook to Thames)

  • Confident

    Engaging with farmers and farmer groups, to promote improved habitat and water quality and floodplain restoration

    Reason for measure
    Control or manage rural diffuse pollution
    Delivery mechanism
    WEIF Water Environment Improvement Fund
    Location
    Thame

  • Confident

    Improvement of fish passage at first barriers on main River Chalgrove: Stadhampton

    Reason for measure
    Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters
    Delivery mechanism
    WEIF Water Environment Improvement Fund
    Location
    Chalgrove Brook

  • Confident

    Building Oxfordshire's Freshwater Network

    Reason for measure
    Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters
    Delivery mechanism
    Green Recovery Challenge Fund/Challenge Fund
    Location
    Thame (Aylesbury to Scotsgrove Brook)

  • Confident

    Building Oxfordshire's Freshwater Network

    Reason for measure
    Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters
    Delivery mechanism
    Other local funding
    Location
    Thames and Chilterns South

  • Less certain

    Control and removal of Himalayan balsam with the catchment

    Reason for measure
    Control or manage invasive non-native species
    Delivery mechanism
    Voluntary initiatives
    Barriers to delivery
    Long term funding (over 5 years), development of effective control measures for certain INNS
    Location
    Thame

  • Less certain

    Reduction in pollution incidents

    Reason for measure
    Control or manage point source discharges
    Delivery mechanism
    Potential future water industry programme
    Barriers to delivery
    Requires substantial investment from private sector and enforcement from regulator
    Location
    Thame

  • Less certain

    Fish passage along whole of main River Thame and tributaries

    Reason for measure
    Mitigate the impacts on ecology from physical modifications in modified waters
    Delivery mechanism
    None identified
    Barriers to delivery
    Funding not secured, landowner permission for works
    Location
    Thame

  • Less certain

    Creation of a network of high quality sites, providing clean water, where freshwater wildlife can thrive

    Reason for measure
    Manage modified habitats
    Delivery mechanism
    Developer funded
    Barriers to delivery
    Securing funding
    Location
    Thame

  • Wider water environment

    Private sewage treatment systems/septic tanks public engagement campaign

    Reason for measure
    Reduce storm overflows and drainage system incidents
    Delivery mechanism
    Grant giving trusts and businesses
    Location
    Thame

  • Wider water environment

    Trout in the Classroom

    Reason for measure
    Connecting communities with nature
    Delivery mechanism
    WEIF Water Environment Improvement Fund
    Location
    Thames and Chilterns South

Catchment Partnership contributors

Partners involved in the creation of this page and the actions of the partnership: