River Ivel facts for kids
The River Ivel is a river in eastern England. It mainly flows through Bedfordshire. The Ivel is a tributary of the River Great Ouse, which means it's a smaller river that flows into a larger one. Its sources, or starting points, include the Barton Hills.
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Where the River Ivel Flows
The River Ivel starts from four main streams. One of these streams begins near Baldock in Hertfordshire. The rest of the river and the land it drains are in Bedfordshire. The Ivel flows through towns and villages like Stotfold, Arlesey, Henlow, Langford, Biggleswade, Sandy, and Blunham. It eventually joins the River Great Ouse near Tempsford. The river is about 26 kilometers (16 miles) long.
Rivers Joining the Ivel
Several smaller rivers, called tributaries, flow into the River Ivel:
- The River Hiz joins the Ivel near Champneys Henlow.
- The Flit meets the Ivel at the edge of Langford. Sometimes, the lower part of the Flit is even called the Ivel on maps because of an old canal that connected them.
The Kingfisher Way Trail
The Kingfisher Way is a special nature trail that is about 34 kilometers (21 miles) long. It mostly follows the valley of the River Ivel. You can walk or cycle along this path from where the river starts at Ivel Springs in Baldock all the way to where it joins the River Great Ouse at Tempsford. It's a great way to see nature!
Long ago, people wanted to use the River Ivel for boats to carry goods. Plans for a canal were first made in 1756. By 1758, special water gates called locks were built at places like Tempsford, Blunham, South Mills, and Sandy. These locks helped boats move up and down the river when the water level changed.
At first, the people who lent money for the canal were in debt. But trade on the canal grew quickly, and by 1780, all the loans were paid back. The canal was later made longer, reaching Shefford in 1823. More locks were built at Biggleswade, Holme, Stanford, and Clifton.
However, the canal was no longer used after 1876. A dam was built across it at Sandy that same year, stopping boats from passing.
Old Canal Structures You Can See
Even though the canal is gone, you can still find parts of it today.
- Near a bridge over the River Flit in Shefford, you can see a wall from the old boat loading area, called a wharf.
- There's a path next to the river that used to be the towpath for the canal. This is where horses would pull the boats. After crossing a small bridge over the River Hiz, the path continues. The old canal used to be right next to this path. It was filled in after World War II because it was thought to be unsafe. The river you see there now was originally the millstream for Shefford Mill. You can still see parts of the old mill tower nearby.
- Further along, east of Stanford village, a wooden footbridge crosses the river. This is where Stanford Lock used to be, and it's one of the best-preserved parts of the old canal.
Boating on the Ivel
The River Ivel is not wide enough for large boats anymore. But you can still go canoeing or punting (a type of boating where you push a long pole against the riverbed) on some parts of it. You can canoe for about 11 kilometers (7 miles) between Biggleswade and where the Ivel joins the River Great Ouse at Tempsford.
Fishing on the Ivel
Many people enjoy fishing on the River Ivel. The rights to fish in different parts of the river are owned by:
- The landowners whose property is next to the river. They usually own the river up to its middle point.
- Local fishing clubs or groups of anglers who have rented or bought the fishing rights.
The Ivel is known for having healthy and large fish. You might find:
- Barbel (weighing 4.5 to 7.7 kilograms or 10-17+ pounds)
- Perch (over 1.8 kilograms or 4 pounds)
- Chub (over 3.1 kilograms or 7 pounds)
- Roach
- Carp (up to 9 kilograms or 20 pounds)
- Pike
