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River Slea, Hampshire facts for kids

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River Slea
The small central watercourse is the Slea/Oxney Stream, much larger to the north is the Wey (north branch)
Country England
County Hampshire
District East Hampshire
Towns Sleaford, Bordon
Physical characteristics
Main source Kingsley Stream
Kingsley Mill, Kingsley
72m
51°07′57″N 0°52′52″W / 51.1325°N 0.8811°W / 51.1325; -0.8811
2nd source Oakhanger Stream
River mouth River Wey
North of Brockford Bridge, far north fields of parish of Headley, Hampshire
62m
51°08′31″N 0°49′52″W / 51.1420°N 0.8310°W / 51.1420; -0.8310
Length 6.2 km (3.9 mi)
Basin features
Progression Oxney Stream, River Slea, Wey (south branch), Wey, Thames, North Sea
River system Wey catchment
Tributaries
  • Right:
    Oxney Moss

The River Slea is a small river in Hampshire, England. It is a branch of the River Wey, which is a larger river. The River Slea flows through the countryside and helps to create a home for many plants and animals.

The Journey of the River Slea

The River Slea starts when two smaller streams meet. These are the Kingsley Stream and the Oakhanger Stream. They join together at a place called Kingsley Mill.

From there, the river flows towards the east. It passes through a village named Sleaford. After flowing for about 6.2 kilometers (3.9 miles), the River Slea meets the River Wey. This meeting point is just north of Brockford Bridge.

A part of the River Slea has another name. The section between Kingsley Mill and Sleaford is also known as the Oxney Stream. The Slea also has a smaller stream that flows into it. This stream is called the Oxney Moss. It starts near the town of Bordon and joins the River Slea at Sleaford.

Keeping Our Rivers Healthy: Water Quality

It is very important to check the health of our rivers. The Environment Agency in England regularly measures the water quality of rivers like the Slea. They give each river a score to show how healthy it is. This score helps us understand if the river is a good home for wildlife.

There are two main things they look at:

  • Ecological Status: This checks the living things in the river. Scientists look at the types and numbers of tiny creatures called invertebrates. They also check the types of flowering plants and fish living there.
  • Chemical Status: This checks for harmful chemicals in the water. Scientists compare the levels of different chemicals to safe limits. If the chemicals are too high, it can be bad for the river.

In 2019, the River Slea had a moderate ecological status. This means it was okay, but could be healthier for plants and animals. Its chemical status was marked as fail. This shows that there were some chemicals in the water that were above safe levels. This information helps people work to make the river cleaner and healthier for everyone.

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