Aller Brook facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aller Brook |
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Aller Brook near Newton Abbot
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 Location within Devon
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| Country | England |
| Counties | Devon |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | River Teign Devon 50°32′03″N 3°35′24″W / 50.5342°N 3.5900°W |
| Length | 8 km (5.0 mi) |
The Aller Brook is a small stream, like a mini-river, that flows for about 8 kilometers (5 miles) through Devon, a county in England. It's an important branch of the River Teign, joining it near the town of Newton Abbot.
Where Does Aller Brook Flow?
The Aller Brook starts its journey south of a place called Daccombe, near Coffinswell. At first, it flows west until it reaches the village of Kingskerswell.
In Kingskerswell, the brook turns north and flows through the Aller valley. Another small stream joins it from the left, bringing water from Abbotskerswell and Compton.
The brook continues north, passing west of Milber, before it reaches Newton Abbot. Long ago, the brook twisted and turned through a marshy area here. But in the 1980s, its path was straightened to run alongside the A380 road.
This area is now a special place called a local nature reserve. It's located between Newton Abbot town and the Buckland estate. At the end of the reserve, the brook flows into the Teign Estuary at the Templer Way footbridge.
Since 2004, the water level of the Aller Brook has been measured in Kingskerswell. Normal levels are usually between 0.29 meters (11 inches) and 0.42 meters (1 foot 5 inches). The highest water level ever recorded was 1.42 meters (4 feet 8 inches) in November 2012.
Amazing Wildlife and Nature
The Aller Brook is considered to have good ecological and chemical quality. This means the water is healthy and clean for plants and animals. This "good" rating is high on a five-step scale that goes from high, good, moderate, poor, to bad.
Many different kinds of wildlife live in the nature reserve around the brook. You might spot beautiful dragonflies flying around, or a quick kingfisher diving for fish. Otters, which are playful river animals, have also been seen here.
There's also a special group of Bee Orchids (Ophrys apifera) growing in the reserve. These flowers look a bit like bees, which helps them attract real bees for pollination!
Recently, a new road called the Kingskerswell bypass was built along the Aller valley. Because of the important wildlife in the area, special environmental steps were taken. For example, a unique tunnel was built just for otters. This tunnel helps them safely cross under the new road, especially when their usual paths, like drainpipes, are flooded by high water levels in the brook.
