Itchen Navigation Walk

I've been promising myself a walk of the many chalk rivers and streams locally and never seemed to get round to putting it into practice.

After finally managing to sort my life out I took in a stretch of the Itchen Navigation.

This was adapted into a working water way serving Southampton and Winchester in the 18th Century but fell into disuse 150 years later.

It is fed by the River Itchen which flows alongside and occasionally converges and merges. 

Chalk streams are full of nutrients as they are filtered through the chalk aquifers, keep a constant temperature and remain crystal clear. Packed with a rich biodiversity, they are hugely important for nature with the UK possessing 85% of the chalk rivers worldwide.

I made a short film of my journey - please click on the link here to view  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c2UuyWWZMk - which began at Allbrook just north of Eastleigh and ended up at St.Catherine's Hill just south of Winchester. 

Beautiful Demoiselle

Sedge Warbler

Comma

Harebell

Chalkhill Blue

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c2UuyWWZMk