River Ching facts for kids

Quick facts for kids River Ching
Country	England
Physical characteristics
River mouth	River Lea

The River Ching is a small river in southeast England. It flows from Epping Forest and eventually joins the River Lea.

Where Does the River Ching Start and Flow?

The River Ching begins as a tiny stream. It starts from a spring at the bottom of a tree in southern Epping Forest. The stream flows through woods and over a path. It then reaches a lake called Connaught Water. The water flows over a bed of fine gravel. Sometimes, there isn't enough water for it to flow all the way to the lake.

Connaught Water and Beyond

Connaught Water was made by building a dam across the Ching. This lake is in the areas of Loughton and Waltham Abbey. The river leaves the lake through a special gate called a sluice. It then curves towards Rangers Road. Here, another small stream, the Cuckoo Brook, joins the Ching. The Cuckoo Brook brings water from Ludgate Plain and Chingford Plain.

After Rangers Road, the Ching flows south and then southwest. It goes towards Chingford Hatch. In this area, it flows through a semi-wooded setting. Most of its banks are natural, but some parts have concrete walls.

The River's Journey Through Parks

In the Highams Park area of Chingford, the Ching was dammed again. This created a boating lake about 200 years ago. This lake was part of a big garden plan by Humphrey Repton. Stones from the old London Bridge were used to build the sides of this lake.

In 1850, the river's path was changed. It was moved to flow around the west side of the lake. The river still follows this path today. After Highams Park, the Ching bends southwest. It passes Hale End and the old Walthamstow Stadium. Then, it winds broadly to the west.

Final Stretch to the River Lea

The River Ching turns northwest behind a hotel and a supermarket. Finally, it flows west under the North Circular Road. It runs in a concrete channel here. It passes a pumping station and then enters the River Lea. This meeting point is just north of the Banbury Reservoir in South Chingford.

At this spot, the River Lea has many channels. These include its main path and the Lee Navigation canal. All these channels flow south. The total length of the River Ching, from Connaught Water to the River Lea, is about 9.5 kilometers (about 6 miles).

What Does the Name "Ching" Mean?

The River Ching flows through parts of a town called Chingford. However, the river was not named after the town. Instead, the town's name came first, and then the river was named after the town. This is called a "back-formation."

On maps, the river is often simply called The Ching. Sometimes, parts of it are called Ching Brook.

River Health and Environment

The Environment Agency has studied the River Ching. They classify it as a Heavily Modified Waterbody. This means its natural shape has been changed a lot by people. When it was last checked, the river's water was chemically good. However, its ecological quality was only moderate. This means the plants and animals living in and around the river were not as healthy as they should be.

In 2009, Thames Water announced a plan. They wanted to study how to reduce pollution in the lower parts of the river. This pollution was caused by wastewater from homes. This includes water from sinks, showers, dishwashers, and washing machines. Efforts are made to keep the river clean and healthy for everyone.