Little Avon River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Little Avon River |
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Sturt Bridge near Wickwar, a packhorse bridge on the Little Avon River
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 Location within Gloucestershire
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Parts | England |
| Region | South West |
| Administrative areas | Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Horton, Gloucestershire, England 51°33′30″N 2°21′12″W / 51.558373°N 2.353447°W |
| River mouth | Berkeley Pill Severn Estuary, United Kingdom 51°41′58″N 2°29′18″W / 51.69952°N 2.488404°W |
The Little Avon River is a small river in England. It flows through parts of Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire. For most of its journey, it acts as a border between these two areas.
The river starts near Horton, east of Wickwar. It then flows past towns like Charfield, Stone, and Berkeley. Finally, it joins the River Severn through a place called Berkeley Pill. In the past, boats could travel further up the river to Berkeley. However, a flood-prevention project built in the 1960s now stops boats from going far upstream.
River Journey and Geology
The Little Avon River begins its journey east of Wickwar in Gloucestershire. It flows for about 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) towards the north-west. Along its path, it passes close to Charfield, Stone, and Berkeley. Eventually, it meets the River Severn.
The river flows over sandstone and clay ground. The water at its source is affected by limestone from where it starts. At first, the river flows steeply, creating a natural pattern of fast-moving water (called a riffle-pool sequence). As it reaches Stone, the river becomes flatter. Here, people have changed the river to use its water for irrigation (watering crops). By the time the river reaches Berkeley, it is protected from the ocean tides by special tidal gates.
River Life and Fishing
The Little Avon River is a popular spot for fishing. A group called the Berkeley Estate Fishing Syndicate manages the fishing here. They make sure that fish like brown trout and grayling are in the river for fly fishing. You can also find common coarse fishing species in these waters.
Interesting Bridge Features
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There is a special footbridge over the Little Avon River. This bridge connects Berkeley Castle to the Berkeley Stables. It was built around the early 1800s. The main arch of the bridge is about 8 meters (26 feet) wide. At its highest point, it is about 3.5 meters (11 feet) above the water. The path across the bridge is about 1.5 meters (5 feet) wide, and the whole bridge is about 2.5 meters (8 feet) wide. This bridge was given a special "Grade II listed" status on September 9, 1985. This means it is an important historical building that needs to be protected.
