Paul Jennings

Me lurking in the background looking for water vole signs while Byron and Andrew explain ⁦@Riverflies⁩ . Then emerging triumphant with a dropping the size and shape of a Tic Tac. ⁦@BBOWT⁩ ⁦@Buzz_dont_tweet⁩ ⁦@RiverChess⁩

The people of Chesham gather to hear about restoration projects on the River Chess. This is an initiative supported by the Town Council Impress the Chess Group. As well as seeing riverfly inverts and brown trout we even got to see and handle water vole droppings. Magical evening.

Interesting to hear @SteveReedMP saying that failing sewage treatment works are holding back new housing and growth. He knows the answer fix the system. Nobody wants s£!t flowing down their street and into their rivers.

In Chesham last evening we were joined by staff of the @EnvAgency. It's important that the public know of the good work done by the EA. I am one of the fiercest critics of parts of the agency but supportive of the work carried out on the ground by highly talented people.

Kathryn from the ⁦@CheshamCouncil⁩ explains the workings of the newly installed sluice. This will enable the control of levels in the main river Chess and the bypass channels. This will reduce flood risk and support habitat. Thanks to the ⁦@EnvAgency⁩ for attending.

Opportunity to visit the Chess this evening. ⁦@RiverChess⁩

The project to underground electricity cables in the Chess Valley is in its final stages. ⁦@ChilternsNL⁩ ⁦@ChilternSociety⁩

Recent rain has freshened up the vegetation on the Chess at Chenies. ⁦@ChilternsNL⁩ ⁦@ChilternSociety⁩ ⁦@RiverChess⁩

Some gentle rain in Chesham yesterday and we see the impact of urban runoff into the Chess in Duck Alley. This will be a combination of toxic material from roads, and organic material, fine sediment and chemicals from arable runoff. ⁦@DefraGovUK⁩ ⁦@ChilternsNL⁩

Time for Government to announce a Cilvl Engineering competition to find ways of repurposing the work already completed by HS2. Data processing capacity & links, water storage & transportation, sewage infrastructure, local transport @DefraGovUK @10DowningStreet @transportgovuk

A little rain in Colne catchment, not much & certainly not exceptional & yet Maple Lodge Sewage Treatment Works (STW) discharges for over 11 hours. This STW has been failing for years well in advance of the operator being forced to take HS2 waste water, which continues today.

Ofwat were never independent they marched to the Gov't tune of keep prices down, bills ran well below inflation for more than 20 years. Starving the industry of cash for reinvestment, add to that high cost of debt finance, dividends to shareholders & high executive pay & bonuses.

It looks like Ofwat will be carrying the can for the failures of the water industry but consecutive Governments were warned & buried their heads in the sand at the expense of critical infrastructure & the environment. theguardian.com/business/2025/…

New report finds systemic water company failure and underperformance gov.uk/government/new… all too familiar with an upward trend.

Fencing off rivers from livestock works wonders for marginal plant growth This section of the River Chess was fenced off last year. The plant life has already transformed the channel. ⁦@ChilternsNL⁩ ⁦@ChilternSociety⁩

Normally a fishing day is about the fishing. Yesterday was a good day on the North Yorkshire Derwent but the highlight was a warm Glaves pork pie. A recommendation from the Derwent Angler’s secretary. This is a life changing discovery. glavesbutchers.co.uk

Out ⁦@Riverflies⁩ monitoring on Foston Beck East Yorkshire. Good numbers of Blue Winged Olives and various beetles. ⁦@Buzz_dont_tweet⁩ ⁦@bugsymac1⁩

Worrying times for chalk streams. Temperature is a big issue. On the @RiverChess we have see levels over 20degrees c already this year. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…