River Wensum SSSI facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
River Wensum

Site of Special Scientific Interest
The river at Lenwade
Area of Search	Norfolk
Grid reference	to
Interest	Biological
Area	971.9 (ac) 393.3 (ha)
Notification	1993
Location map	English Nature

The River Wensum SSSI is a special place in Norfolk, England. SSSI stands for 'Site of Special Scientific Interest'. This means the river is protected because it's important for its plants, animals, or geology. The River Wensum was named a SSSI in 1993. Later, in 2000, it also became a 'Special Area of Conservation' (SAC), which gives it even more protection. This protected part of the river stretches for about 71 kilometers (44 miles). It runs from near South Raynham all the way down to Hellesdon Mill.

Why the River Wensum is Special

The River Wensum is unique because its upper parts are fed by springs that come from chalk rock. This makes it a rare type of lowland river. It's considered one of the best examples of a "chalk and oolite river" in Europe.

Amazing Animals in the River

The river is home to four very important animal species found across Europe:

• The bullhead: A small fish that lives on the riverbed.
• The brook lamprey: A jawless fish that looks a bit like an eel.
• The white-clawed crayfish: A freshwater creature, similar to a small lobster.
• Desmoulin's whorl snail: A tiny snail that lives in wet, marshy areas near the river.

River Plants and Flowers

Besides these animals, the River Wensum has over 100 different types of plants. These include beautiful water plants like water crowfoot and water starwort. These plants are important for the river's health and provide food and shelter for the animals.

Protecting the River Wensum

For many years, the health of the River Wensum was getting worse. In 2002, a study showed that the river's natural environment was in decline. The main problems were poor water quality and too much siltation, which is when fine dirt and mud build up on the riverbed.

Working Together to Help the River

To fix these problems, a group called the River Wensum Restoration Strategy (RWRS) was formed in 2008. This group includes organizations like the Environment Agency and Natural England. Their goal is to bring the river back to its natural, healthy state.

One big issue they found was that 14 old water mills along the river were blocking its natural flow. These mills caused about 67% of the river to back up. The RWRS decided that lowering, removing, or creating bypasses around these mills was a top priority. This would allow the river to flow more naturally.

Since 2008, the RWRS has made many improvements. They work with landowners, fishing groups, and other organizations. Their projects include:

• Restoring gravel areas in the river, which are important for fish to lay eggs.
• Removing excess silt to clean the riverbed.

Local Efforts to Restore the River

Local groups are also helping. The Norfolk Anglers Conservation Association (NACA) successfully restored a part of the river at Lyng in the 1980s. They are now working on another area called Costessey Point. This ongoing work will help them learn the best ways to protect and restore other rivers in the future.