Waterways failing to support wildlife, report finds

The River Itchen was one of those studied in the report

A national park has called for a united response to a report that has found waterways across the South of England are failing to support wildlife.

The "Water In The Park" report from South Downs National Park looked at all bodies of water across Hampshire, Sussex and Surrey and found only 10% were in "good" ecological status under UK regulation.

It said there were multiple reasons for this, including sewage discharges, pesticides and pollution from roads.

The national park has called for action from its partners, landowners, businesses, local councils and communities to find long-term solutions to improve water quality and management.

The Water In the Park report covered six river catchment partnerships across the South Downs region: Test and Itchen, East Hampshire, Wey Landscape, Arun and Western Streams, Adur and Ouse, and the Cuckmere and Pevensey.

It found an overall decline in water quality in the region from 2014 to 2022.

"Water is fundamental to the biodiversity, landscape, and wellbeing of communities in and around the South Downs National Park," said Siôn McGeever, chief executive for the national park.

He added: "Our powers and resources as a national park are actually quite limited, so we want to bring everyone together, from water companies to landowners and river trusts, to use our collective strength to tackle this issue.

"Work to improve our water is already under way across the region as part of many different projects and partnerships, but we need more of them and with greater resources."

Siôn McGeever believes collaboration is needed to improve water quality

The call to action comes as the South Downs National park is finalising its Partnership Management Plan (PMP), which it says lays out its priorities for the park for the next five years.

Mr McGeever accepted that it would not be "an overnight fix" but highlighted sites like the River Meon and Cockshut Stream, where nature in those areas has been able to "bounce back" thanks to better river management.