Brinkworth Brook facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brinkworth Brook |
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| Country | England |
| Region | West of England |
| District | Wiltshire |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Broadtown Broad Hinton, Wiltshire, England 325 ft (99 m) 51°30′08″N 1°52′25″W / 51.5022°N 1.8735°W |
| River mouth | Bristol Avon Great Somerford, Wiltshire, England 197 ft (60 m) 51°32′43″N 2°02′18″W / 51.5454°N 2.0382°W |
| Length | 8.7 mi (14.0 km), westerly |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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| River system | Bristol Avon |
The Brinkworth Brook is a small river in England. It is a tributary, which means it flows into a larger river. The Brinkworth Brook joins the Bristol Avon.
This brook starts near Broad Hinton in Wiltshire, a county in the West Country. It flows first north, then west. The Brinkworth Brook joins the Bristol Avon at Great Somerford.
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Where Does the Brinkworth Brook Flow?
The Brinkworth Brook begins in a place called Broad Town. This area is just north of Broad Hinton, close to Royal Wootton Bassett.
First, the brook flows north. South of Royal Wootton Bassett, smaller streams join it. These streams come from Westlea in Swindon and a reservoir at Tockenham Wick.
The brook then goes under the M4 motorway. It turns west, flowing past the village of Brinkworth. Another stream, the Thunder Brook, joins it from the right side near Dovey's Farm.
Near Somerford Bridge, the Brinkworth Brook turns south. It then meets the Bristol Avon near Dauntsey House in Great Somerford.
A Look Back in Time: History of the Brook
The Brinkworth Brook has been important to the local area for a long time. It helps form the southern and western edges of the parish of Brinkworth. A parish is like a local area or district.
People believe there might have been a watermill on the Brinkworth Brook. This watermill could have been used as far back as the 1500s. Watermills used the power of flowing water to grind grain or do other work.
Wildlife and Nature in the Brinkworth Brook
The Brinkworth Brook is a special type of river called a chalk stream. These streams have clear water and beds made of gravel. They are very important for wildlife.
You can find many interesting plants and animals here. Some plants include floating water crowfoot (a type of Ranunculus), sedges like Carex, and reeds such as Phragmites and Glyceria maxima.
The brook is also home to a rare snail called the Desmoulin's whorl snail. Many different types of fish live in the brook. You can also find a wide variety of small creatures without backbones, called aquatic invertebrates. These are like water insects and other tiny animals.
Understanding the Water: Hydrology
Hydrology is the study of how water moves on and under the Earth's surface. The Brinkworth Brook, like many rivers, can be affected by pollution.
One source of pollution for the Brinkworth Brook is highway run-off. This means water that flows off roads, especially busy ones like the M4 motorway. This run-off can carry pollutants from cars and roads into the brook.
