The Chilterns National Landscape has secured a £350k grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for an exciting new project: Not Bourne Yesterday: Chalk Stream Communities of the Chilterns.
This groundbreaking initiative aims to restore and protect their endangered chalk streams while fostering a deeper connection between these vital waterways and local communities.
Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, this project will breathe new life into the Chilterns' fragile chalk streams through a blend of art, archaeology, citizen science, and hands-on habitat restoration. The initial grant of £351,083 will help develop the project, laying the groundwork for a future bid of £2.8 million to fully realise their vision.
The Chilterns’ chalk streams, crucial yet endangered, are under threat from pollution, habitat loss, and climate change. This funding is a crucial step in reversing their decline and securing a brighter future for these precious rivers.
Not Bourne Yesterday will weave together 12 interconnected initiatives, each aiming to conserve and celebrate the environmental and cultural heritage of these streams. Chilterns National Landscape are excited to uncover and share the 8,000-year story of the Chilterns' chalk streams, revealing their profound connection to the lives of local communities past, present, and future.
Their goals are ambitious: restore natural stream processes, reconnect these rivers with their landscapes, enhance accessibility, and foster community engagement and well-being. They're committed to involving local communities throughout the project, aiming to deepen their understanding and appreciation of these vital waterways.