At the start of April 2017 Affinity Water reduced the amount of water they take from the environment by eighteen million litres per day (18Ml/d) at one of their pumping stations near Watton-at-Stone. The particular pumping station linked to the River Beane has been used since the 1950s, and it is expected that reducing the abstractions will benefit flows in the chalk stream and surrounding environment.

Core project group

Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust (HMWT)

The leading voice for wildlife conservation in Hertfordshire. HMWT manage 44 nature reserves, from beautiful woodlands and wetlands to rare patches of heath and orchard. However, increasingly they are looking beyond their nature reserves to the wider landscape – their vision is of a Living Landscape, an environment rich in wildlife for everyone to enjoy. It is this vision which prompted them to apply to be ‘Catchment Hosts’ for the Beane/Mimram Catchment Management Plan.

The Environment Agency (EA)

A public body responsible to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Their principal aims are to protect and improve the environment. The EA help deliver the environmental priorities of central government and are playing a crucial role in supporting the development and implementation of the Catchment Management Plan. 

The EA's Catchment Coordinator for the area, including the rivers Beane and Mimram, is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (01707 632655).

The River Beane Restoration Association (RBRA)

The RBRA is a local community group. They were first established in 1991 due to concern over the lack of water in the River Beane. They have been campaigning for a reduction in the amount of groundwater abstraction for over 20 years. They also run a river warden scheme and regularly monitor the groundwater levels.

Partners

Affinity Water

Aston Parish Council

Countryside Management Service

Groundwork Hertfordshire

Lafarge

Stevenage Borough Council

Watton at Stone Parish Council

Watton Ramblers

Local landowners

The Water Framework Directive is a piece of European legislation that states that all UK waterbodies (rivers, lakes, seas) must be in ‘good ecological status’ by 2027.