We have joined forces with other Wildlife Trusts and 215 local councillors across the UK to send a powerful open letter to Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP and Rt Hon Steve Reed OBE MP, urging the Government to strengthen protections for chalk streams within planning policy.

This united, cross-party call to action comes amid alarming reports that the Government has shelved the promised Chalk Stream Recovery Pack, a key initiative aimed at safeguarding these globally significant habitats. 

The councillors’ letter highlights the critical need to designate chalk streams and their catchments with a bespoke protection - within the forthcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Councillors from across Norfolk have asked that the Government support their efforts to protect precious chalk streams, so that more homes can be delivered across the country without sacrificing the health of these fragile waterways. 

These measures are crucial to safeguarding some of the world’s rarest ecosystems, many of which are located right here in Norfolk. 

Eliot Lyne, our Chief Executive, emphasised: 'We are custodians of a globally rare wildlife habitat. Chalk streams are the UK’s Amazon rainforest - as their glittering paths meander through our landscape they play host to a rich diversity of life and are crucial for the wellbeing of our local communities. It's hard to imagine a world without them, but with so many of our waterways under real threat from pollution, over abstraction and climate change, this is the future we face if our government doesn't give chalk streams the protection they deserve. 

'Nature knows no boundaries, and chalk streams form vitally important corridors that help wildlife to move through the county and beyond - we must stand united in their defence at this crucial time. It's really encouraging to be working alongside Wildlife Trusts across the UK, and supported by many of our local councillors, to protect these special places for wildlife and people.' 

Comments provided by Norfolk councillors who signed the open letter include: 

Cllr Leslie Bambridge, Conservative, King’s Lynn North & Central Division, Norfolk County Council: ‘We count ourselves lucky we have a number of chalk streams in Norfolk including the Babingley, Hun, Ingol, Nar and Gaywood, to name some of those in West Norfolk. These streams are a haven for wildlife, and they need to be maintained. I have frequently walked to the Babingley and otters used to be seen in the Gaywood River near the station.’ 

Cllr Robert Colwell, Lib Dem, Gaywood South, Norfolk County Council: ‘These streams are vital for biodiversity, supporting a wide range of species, from native fish to water voles. Chalk streams are also crucial for local communities, providing drinking water, supporting agriculture, and offering recreational spaces for people. If we do not act now, we could lose one of the most important natural resources in the country, and it will be too late to reverse the damage.’ 

Cllr Gary Champion, Green Party, Sewell Ward, Norwich City Council: ‘The River Wensum is one of the most important spring-fed chalk rivers in the country, sustaining rich biodiversity, purifying water, and playing a key role in flood mitigation. Chalk streams are not just critical for wildlife, but also for our communities, providing essential services, from clean water to recreation, and serving as living classrooms for future generations.’ 

Cllr Pallavi Devulapalli, Independent, Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk: ‘The people of West Norfolk are very keen to preserve and clean up our precious chalk streams and are looking to government to clamp down on pollution and restore these wonderful rivers to their natural sparkling state.’ 

Andrew Jamieson, Conservative, North Coast Division, Deputy Leader, Norfolk County Council: ‘I am really pleased to see NWT adding their name to the work being done already by the Norfolk Coastal Partnership, the North Norfolk Coastal Group, Norfolk Rivers Authority and others to that ensure these unique chalk streams are brought back to their original state.’ 

With only 15% of UK rivers in good ecological health, chalk streams – often associated with their characteristically clear and sparkling waters - are in a perilous state. These rare habitats, which support a plethora of wildlife including brown trout, kingfishers and Norfolk Hawker dragonflies, have suffered decades of pollution, overuse and neglect.  

The Government’s decision to shelve the Chalk Stream Recovery Pack has sparked widespread concern. Housing developments, driven by inflated targets, pose a growing threat to these fragile waterways. 

The Trusts’ Save Our Chalk Streams Campaign has rallied significant public and cross-sector support to date. During the most recent National Planning Policy Framework consultation period (July–September 2024), almost 700 people urged the Government to prioritise chalk stream protections in its planning reforms.  

62 councillors from Norfolk joined their counterparts from Hampshire & the Isle of Wight and Wiltshire in supporting this week’s open letter.  We collaborate closely with these Wildlife Trusts to build widespread support and highlight the national significance of this critical issue. 

Along with the coalition of Wildlife Trusts from across England, we are urging members of the public to join the fight for chalk streams by contacting their local councillors and advocating for stronger protection. 

Without greater protections for chalk streams, the Government risks undermining its own legal targets for nature’s recovery in the Environment Act, alongside to its commitment to protect 30% of inland waters for nature by 2030. 

For more information about our campaign, visit:

Save Our Chalk Streams