Winterbourne (stream) facts for kids

A winterbourne is a special kind of stream or river that flows with water during the colder, wetter months but completely dries up in the summer. These streams are sometimes simply called a bourne, which comes from an old English word meaning a stream that flows from a spring.

How Winterbournes Form

Winterbournes usually appear in areas where there is chalk or other types of porous (meaning they can soak up water) rock. These rocky areas are often found next to clay valleys.

Water Storage in Rocks

When it rains, the porous chalk acts like a giant sponge. It soaks up the water and stores it underground in something called an aquifer. An aquifer is like a natural underground reservoir. The chalk then slowly releases this water.

Why They Dry Up

During dry seasons, especially in summer, the amount of water stored in the aquifer goes down. This causes the water table (the top level of the underground water) to drop. If the water table falls below the level of the stream's bed, the stream will dry out until more rain refills the aquifer.

Where to Find Winterbournes

Winterbournes are quite common in the United Kingdom. Many villages in the UK are even named after these unique streams!

Villages in England

• Many villages in Dorset are named Winterborne, such as Winterbourne Abbas, Winterborne Monkton, Winterborne St Martin, Winterborne Zelston, Winterborne Houghton, and Winterborne Whitechurch.
• In north Wiltshire, near Avebury, you can find Winterbourne Monkton and Winterbourne Bassett.
• South of Wiltshire, near Salisbury, there are villages like Winterbourne Dauntsey, Winterbourne Earls, and Winterbourne Gunner.
• In South Gloucestershire, you'll find the villages of Winterbourne and Winterbourne Down.

Other Examples

There's a winterbourne stream in a part of Lewes, East Sussex, which is also called Winterbourne. This stream flows from the bottom of the South Downs hills, through a park, a housing area, and a public garden. It eventually reaches the Railway Land Nature Reserve, where it joins the River Ouse. It's a very clear stream and often has ducks swimming in it! Another well-known winterbourne is the River Lavant in Chichester, West Sussex.

Human Impact on Winterbournes

Sometimes, human activities can change how winterbournes behave. People often use water from chalk aquifers as a source of drinking water for homes. When too much water is taken from these underground stores, it can cause streams and rivers that used to flow all year round to become artificial winterbournes. This means they now dry up in summer, even if they didn't before.

Protecting Water Sources

People in local communities often work together to reduce how much water is taken from aquifers. Their efforts can sometimes help these streams go back to flowing all year, like the River Pang in Berkshire, which has seen improvements.