An early start for the river Lambourn

The river Lambourn is a perennial river in the section above Great Shefford. This means that it does not flow all year and in the last weeks it has started to flow again having been dry for several months.

The river is fed by water from the chalk springs which flow when the water table reaches a high level. Chalk is a bit like a sponge and after the usually dry summer season the chalk soaks up the autumn and winter rains and when the levels rise the water bubbles out through many chalk springs. Those in the upper reaches have started to flow whilst the lower ones in Lych Wood have yet to start.

You can read more about the river HERE