River Colne Catchment Action Network

Catchment projects

Hover over a numbered spot to see a project summary. Click on a spot to see the full project details. Alternatively view the project list.

The Ver is a small chalk stream which rises in the Chiltern Hills close to the Beds/Herts border near the village of Kensworth Lynch. The Ver flows for approximately 16 miles through Markyate, Redbourn and St Albans before joining the Colne near Bricket Wood. The Ver has one tributary, the River Red, which joins just south of Redbourn.

13. Riverside Way - Enhancing the River Ver

Aim: Involve people with their local waterbodies; Improve wildlife corridors; Manage flow

This project followed on from the previous project at Riverside Way, which, in 2015, saw the creation of a series of in channel structures from natural materials as well as native aquatic vegetation planting.

12. Abstraction reduction - Bow Bridge

Aims: Manage flow

Affinity have closed their pumping station at Bow Bridge in 2016 to help improve flows in the R. Ver.

11. Channel re-alignment - Hedges Farm

Aims: Improve wildlife corridors

Project to restore the river to a more natural alignment along the bottom of the valley between New Barnes Mill and Park Street Mill.

10. Park Street Mill weir bypass

Aims: Improve wildlife corridors

Affinity Water propose to modify an existing channel to create a bypass for fish around Park Mill.

9. Redbournbury Fords Bridge

Aims: Involve people with their local waterbodies

Remidial work to the bridge at Redbournbury Fords East has been completed to a good standard

8. New Barnes Mill Weir Removal Project

Aim: Improve wildlife corridors; Manage flow

As part of Revitalising Chalk Rivers, the Environment Agency have removed a weir and carried out in-channel improvements at New Barnes Mill to improve the river for fish, and enhance habitats for wildlife.

7. Revitalising the RiVer: Restoration Project from Verulamium Park to Sopwell Nunnery

Aim: Improve wildlife corridors; Improve water quality

The Environment Agency, Affinity Water, St Albans City and District Council and Hertfordshire County Council's Countryside Management Service (CMS) are working together to improve the River Ver, the Verulamium Park lakes and the wider river area through St. Albans.

6. Restoring sustainable river flows

Aim: Improve wildlife corridors; Manage flow

The River Ver suffers from low flows as a consequence of overabstraction for public water supply. Affinity Water plan to reduce abstraction in the Ver catchment to restore river flows.

5. River Ver Access & Interpretation Project

Aims: Involve people with their local waterbodies

A Heritage Lottery Funded project led by the Ver Valley Society and Hertfordshire Countryside Management Service to increase access to and interpret the heritage, landscape and biodiversity of, the the River Ver and its Valley.

4. Riverfly monitoring

Aim: Involve people with their local waterbodies; Improve water quality

A Riverfly monitoring group was set up by the Ver Valley Society and Redbournbury Fishery in 2012.

1. De-shading the River Ver at Verulamium Park

Aims: Improve wildlife corridors

Tree removal, scrub clearance and willow pollarding to open up a shaded stretch of the River Ver

3. Restoring the Ver at Sopwell Nunnery

Aim: Involve people with their local waterbodies; Improve wildlife corridors; Manage flow

A project to enhance the habitat value of the River Ver and to improve its connection to the local community

2. Riverside Way - Restoring the River Ver

Aim: Involve people with their local waterbodies; Improve wildlife corridors; Manage flow

A project which restored a stretch of the River Ver, close to its confluence with the R. Colne, enhancing habitat for wildlife whilst also improving facilities for visitors.