The Cut, Berkshire facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Cut
Cokeley Bridge, crossing The Cut
Country	England
Counties	Berkshire
Towns	Bray, Berkshire, Binfield, Warfield, Winkfield
Physical characteristics
Main source	North Ascot, Bracknell Forest, Berkshire 51°25′50″N 0°40′53″W / 51.43056°N 0.68139°W / 51.43056; -0.68139
River mouth	River Thames Bray, Berkshire 51°29′57″N 0°40′53″W / 51.49917°N 0.68139°W / 51.49917; -0.68139
Length	23 km (14 mi)

The Cut is a river in England that starts in North Ascot, Berkshire. It flows for about 14 miles (23 km) through the countryside areas of Winkfield, Warfield, and Binfield in Bracknell Forest. It then reaches Bray, where it joins the famous River Thames.

The river is called "The Cut" because it was changed by people a long time ago. In the early 1800s, its path was moved eastwards to stop floods. Before this, it used to flow west towards the River Loddon. It was also known by other names like How Brook and Broadwater.

Where Does The Cut Flow?

The Cut flows along the northern edge of Bracknell, a "new town" that was created in 1949. Before this, Bracknell was a small village. The river used to have three smaller streams that fed into it: Downmill Stream, Bull Brook, and Blackmoor Stream. When Bracknell grew, parts of these streams were covered up, and buildings were built over them.

The River's Beginning

The Cut starts near Ascot Place in Winkfield. Several small streams feed into three pretty lakes there. These lakes also get water from Blackmoor Stream, which begins at Englemere Pond. Englemere Pond is a special nature reserve, known for its unique plants and animals.

Much of Blackmoor Stream flows underground in a culvert, which is like a hidden tunnel for water. Ascot Place is a large country house built a long time ago, with big gardens. The stream was dammed to create the lakes, making the area beautiful. There's even an old grotto (a cave-like structure) and a red brick bridge near the lakes.

Journey Through Towns and Parks

As The Cut continues west, it passes the Meadowbrook Montessori School. This school was one of the first in Britain for young children. Further along, it is joined by two more streams: one from Nuptown and Bull Brook from Warfield.

Like Blackmoor Stream, much of Bull Brook also flows underground because Bracknell has grown so much. It starts in two places and meets underground. It comes to the surface near Savernake Pond, which helps control floodwater from the town.

The river then flows under roads and through Warfield Park. In the park, there's a large lake that was created by a small dam. The name Warfield actually comes from "Weir Field," meaning a place for fishing on The Cut!

Meeting Other Streams

The Cut meets Bull Brook near Warfield Church, a very old church built in the 1200s. After this, the river turns southwest, flowing under roads and past farms. In 2016, a small part of the river was moved to make way for a new road and homes. This project also created a special pool to hold floodwater.

Further on, The Cut is joined by Downmill Stream, which also comes out of an underground culvert. Downmill Stream starts at Gormoor Pond and mostly flows underground, except for two lakes and a pond. One of these, Mill Pond, was made bigger to help control water when Bracknell was built.

The area around The Cut from Bott Bridge to Tinkers Copse is a special outdoor area called the Cut Countryside Corridor, perfect for enjoying nature.

The Final Stretch to the Thames

After Downmill Stream joins, The Cut flows northwest into the grounds of Binfield Manor, an old house surrounded by parkland. The river drops over a small waterfall (weir) into a large lake.

Historically, The Cut used to turn west to join the River Loddon. But around 1820, a new path was dug, heading northeast, to help prevent floods. This new path is what we see today. The river then goes under several motorways, including the M4. It is joined by another stream called The Bourne before it tumbles down another weir and joins Bray Cut, which is part of the Maidenhead Waterways.

Near its end, The Cut flows past Jesus Hospital, a very old building with homes and a chapel built in 1627. The river then passes under more roads and motorways. Near its mouth, it flows alongside large lakes that used to be gravel pits. One of these, Bray Lake, is popular for sailing. Finally, The Cut joins the River Thames just above Bray Marina.

Wildlife and Water Quality

The Cut has had some challenges with its water quality in the past, especially in the 1960s. This was likely due to Bracknell growing quickly and not having good enough sewage treatment. However, things have gotten much better!

Fish and Other Animals

Today, the river is home to many small fish like chub, roach, and gudgeon. You can also find three-spined sticklebacks and stone loach. Along the riverbanks, you might spot beautiful kingfishers, tall grey herons (especially near Warfield House lake), and grey wagtails. Sometimes, you might even see mink.

Improving the River

The river does receive treated water from sewage treatment plants, and it has some weirs that can make it harder for fish to move around. It also gets runoff from roads and industrial areas. But there's been a big effort to make the river healthier!

A group called the Braybrook Community Nature and Fishing Club, which includes many young anglers, started a project. They got grants to build ten fishing platforms along the river, including some for people with disabilities. They also worked to improve the river itself. They trimmed tree branches to let more sunlight reach the water, which helps aquatic plants grow. They used cut wood to create bends in the river, making the water flow faster. This helped clean the riverbed, revealing clean gravel underneath.

In 2017, there were some pollution incidents that sadly killed many fish. The Environment Agency worked with Thames Water and local businesses to teach them how to store and get rid of chemicals safely, to prevent this from happening again. Because of these efforts, it was safe to put fish back into the river. On December 14, 2017, about 1,700 chub, 1,000 dace, 1,000 roach, and 300 tench were released into The Cut near Jock's Lane. These fish were raised at a special facility.

How Water Quality is Measured

The Environment Agency checks the water quality of rivers in England. They give each river an overall "ecological status," which can be high, good, moderate, poor, or bad. This status looks at things like the types and numbers of invertebrates (like insects), plants, and fish in the river. They also check the "chemical status," which compares chemical levels to safe limits. Chemical status is either good or fail.

In 2016, the water quality of The Cut system was mostly "moderate" ecologically and "fail" chemically in many parts. The reasons for this included sewage discharge in the upper parts, poor livestock management, and changes made to the river channel that block fish movement. The chemical status of the lower parts improved from 2013-2014 to 2015-2016, but unfortunately, it got worse again from 2016 to 2019, and the whole stream is now rated "Fail" for chemical status.