Lockram Brook facts for kids

Lockram Brook is a small stream in southern England. It starts near the Berkshire village of Mortimer and flows into Burghfield Brook.

Where Lockram Brook Starts and Flows

Lockram Brook begins in several wooded and farming areas near Mortimer. Some of its water comes from drains in Brocas Plantation. Other parts start from springs on Wokefield Common and in Starvale Woods.

Wokefield Common Nature Reserve

About 150 acres (60 ha) of Wokefield Common is a special nature reserve. It is looked after by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust. They regularly thin the trees to help keep the heathland environment healthy.

Joining Branches

Another part of the brook starts from springs on Long Moor, a bit further south. These different streams join together before flowing under Loogmoor Road. More springs flow north from Lukin's Wood. All these parts meet near a road called Brewery Common. East of this meeting point, there is a pond shaped like a spoon.

Journey to Millbarn Pond

The brook then flows northeast towards Wokefield. It passes under Lockrams Lane near Wokefield Farm. Here, the brook flows through a lovely valley. The water is held back by a dam to form a small lake called Millbarn Pond.

Millbarn Pond Details

Millbarn Pond has been used for fishing since at least 1911. It covers an area of about 8.46 acres (3.42 ha). The dam that created the pond was built in the 1700s. The pond is about 10 feet (3 m) deep at its deepest point. Its surface is about 200 feet (60 m) above sea level.

The water in the pond has many nutrients, which means it is "eutrophic". This helps a wide variety of water plants to grow. Not much water flows out of the pond, except when there is heavy rain.

Further Downstream

Near the dam at the end of Millbarn Pond, there is a sluice. This is a gate that controls the water flow. The water then tumbles down seven brick steps into a deeply shaded valley. The brook continues northeast through Rookery Wood. It flows under Goring Lane at a place called Waterfall Cottage. In 1899, there was a small pond here with another sluice.

Soon after, Lockram Brook joins Burghfield Brook at James's Farm in Grazeley Green. This area is known for flooding easily. Local councils have discussed how to manage this.

After joining, Burghfield Brook continues northeast. It flows around the southern and eastern edges of the Atomic Weapons Establishment Burghfield. It then goes under Burnthouse Bridge. Finally, it merges with the much larger Foudry Brook near Hartley Court Farm.

Water Quality of the Brook

The Environment Agency checks the water quality of rivers in England. They give each river an overall "ecological status". This status can be high, good, moderate, poor, or bad.

How Water Quality is Measured

To decide the status, they look at several things. They check the types and numbers of tiny water animals (invertebrates). They also look at the different kinds of flowering plants and fish. Another check is the "chemical status". This compares how much of certain chemicals are in the water to safe levels. Chemical status is either good or fail.

Lockram Brook is too small to have its own separate water quality entry. However, rules for water quality also consider if fish can easily move along the river. Because there is a stepped weir (a small dam with steps) at the outflow of Millbarn Pond, it would likely be rated poor or bad for fish movement.

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