Chalk streams and rivers traditionally rich in wildlife and with strong cultural association to fishing, water meadows and water mills are now under threat from range of factors including pollution, water extraction and habitat loss.
Since 2018 R4C has been working with the Hampshire & Isle of White Wildlife Trust to evaluate their lottery funded Landscape Partnership, Watercress & Winterbournes that aims to restore the natural functions of the headwaters of both the River’s Test and Itchen, two iconic chalk streams.
Initially R4C has supported the Wildlife Trust in their Development Phase by helping to design a community engagement process for catchment management groups, undertaking audience development planning and developing an Evaluation Framework. Since them we have undertaken the Interim evaluation which focused on delivery performance and we are now planning the Final Evaluation which will explore impact, lessons learnt and legacy.