This week was all about chalk stream restoration and what a fantastic experience it was! Joining with Abbey People and the Greater Cambridge Chalk Stream Project, GoodGymers got busy at Coldham's Brook helping to restore this rare habitat. 💧

As well as the activity itself, we learned a lot about the ecological value of chalk streams. The porous chalk allows water to seep through quickly, removing organic matter and sediment, which results in very clear, very clean water, and supports a unique array of wildlife. 🌿

Our sessions involved:

• 🗑️ Litter picking - collecting bagfuls of rubbish, unearthing a lot of metal piping, complete bikes and shopping trolleys, and even a bag of Hindu deities (I will try and find their owner!).

• 🧹 Clearing - raking the banks to clear brambles and nettles, creating natural protective barriers.

• 🌿 Seeding - sowing a mix of marginal plant seeds along the banks of the stream to promote biodiversity.

• 🪜 Fencing - installing temporary fencing to protect the area while it establishes.

Catherine also rescued a toad from a near-miss with a rake, making sure it was safely returned to some vegetation on the bank edge. 🐸

EcoNick joined all 3 sessions this week 💪 " There was a serious amount of rubbish to clear from 10 til 2. The next session there isn't for a while so we needed to finish it. It was a really good workout, shifting mangled shopping trolleys. Looking forward to getting in the water more next week, and far far less rubbish!"

The project continues next week the more serene Hobson's brook.