River Bourne, Chertsey facts for kids
The River Bourne, also known as the Chertsey Bourne, is a river in England. It flows through the counties of Berkshire and Surrey. The river starts in places like Windsor Great Park and Swinley Forest. It then travels all the way to the famous River Thames.
Contents
Where the River Flows
Starting Point: Upstream of Virginia Water
The River Bourne begins when several smaller streams join together. These streams flow from different directions into a large, beautiful place called Virginia Water Lake. After leaving the lake, the river becomes one main stream.
Virginia Water Lake was mostly created by a big waterfall made of rocks. This waterfall is near the A30 London Road. After the lake, the River Bourne flows through the northern part of the Wentworth Estate. This area has many large houses and a golf course. Here, another small dam creates a smaller pond called Wentworth Pond. This pond is right by the Wentworth Club.
Further along, a stream from Sunningdale Golf Club joins the River Bourne. The river then flows through Virginia Water village. Here, it is often hidden by trees, creating a nice walking path.
The land next to the river, after Virginia Water Lake, is looked after by the local council. It was once owned by a Spanish noble named Ramòn Cabrera.
Old Bridges and Mandarin Ducks
One of the first bridges over the river is an old metal bridge. No one is quite sure how old it is. Long ago, this valley was probably wet grassland, good for cows. So, a strong bridge would have been very useful.
Near the second bridge downstream, you can find a special group of mandarin ducks. These colorful ducks were brought to the River Bourne in 1929–30. This group is likely the biggest in the United Kingdom. It is very important because mandarin ducks are becoming rare in their home country of Asia.
Downstream of Virginia Water Village
As the river continues, it reaches Thorpe Green. Here, the River Bourne forms the border between the villages of Thorpe and Lyne. The northern side of the river gets more sunshine than the southern side. This difference affects the plants that grow there.
The Bourne then flows into Chertsey and passes by Chertsey Meads. It then enters the grounds of St George's College. Here, the river flows much slower. It joins with another branch of the River Bourne, called the Addlestone branch.
Together, these two parts of the river flow into the River Thames. This meeting point is very close to Shepperton Lock in Addlestone. The River Wey joins the Thames a little further downstream.
The longest public path along the river is near Virginia Water Lake. You can also find walks in two parks in Chertsey. The lowest part of the river, near Hamm Court, is wide enough for small motorboats and canoes. Most of the river has natural banks, which are good homes for animals like the European water vole. The middle part of the Bourne goes under the M3 motorway three times. The M25 motorway also crosses it once.
River Environment: Soil and Rain
The River Bourne is quite small, usually about 3 to 5 meters wide after Virginia Water Lake. It flows over land that has a mix of sand and gravel, with some clay. The soil near the start of the river is often acidic heathland. Further downstream, the soil is made of flood plain deposits.
The land around the Bourne, especially below Thorpe, is quite low. Here are some elevations of the river and nearby towns:
| River Bourne Elevation | Town Passed | Town Elevation |
|---|---|---|
| 44m | Sunningdale | 53m |
| 27m | Wentworth | 36-50m |
| 25m | Virginia Water | 29-39m |
| 14m | Thorpe | 14.4m-15.2m |
| 11.6m | Chertsey | 12.2m-14m |
| 10.8m | Hamm Court, Addlestone | 11.4m |
The area gets about 635 millimeters of rain each year.
Flood Risk
In January 2003, the River Bourne flooded its banks in Chertsey. About 130 homes were flooded. Public buildings, like St Anne's County Primary School, were also cut off by the water.
Some people thought this flood was made worse by the building of the Jubilee River. However, the Jubilee River helps protect the Windsor and Maidenhead area, not Chertsey. The Environment Agency is planning new projects to help prevent flooding in areas like Staines-upon-Thames and Chertsey.
Fishing in the River Bourne
People enjoy fishing in the River Bourne. You can find different types of fish here.
- Chub can weigh up to 2 kilograms.
- Barbel have been caught weighing up to 3 kilograms.
- You might also find Bream (up to 1 kilogram) or even carp (up to 5 kilograms).
- Other common fish include roach, dace, perch, and pike.
When the River Thames has a lot of water due to heavy rain, fish often swim into the River Bourne. They do this to escape the strong currents in the Thames. This makes the part of the river near Chertsey Meads especially good for fishing at those times.
