ARK - Action for the River Kennet.
@riverkennet.bsky.social
ARK is the Rivers Trust for the Kennet and Pang catchments.
We are an environmental charity, existing to protect and improve the Kennet, its tributaries and the River Pang. We work at a catchment scale to improve the health of these rivers💦🐟🌿
We are an environmental charity, existing to protect and improve the Kennet, its tributaries and the River Pang. We work at a catchment scale to improve the health of these rivers💦🐟🌿
ARK has received a FiPL grant to start a beaver information hub in the Kennet and Pang catchments. An exciting first step is our Project Manager Rupert recently attending a beaver management course on Purbeck, hosted by @nationaltrust.org.uk @naturalengland.bsky.social and the EA.
#beavers
#beavers
November 26, 2025 at 1:22 PM
ARK has received a FiPL grant to start a beaver information hub in the Kennet and Pang catchments. An exciting first step is our Project Manager Rupert recently attending a beaver management course on Purbeck, hosted by @nationaltrust.org.uk @naturalengland.bsky.social and the EA.
#beavers
#beavers
Tree of Hope Planting Ceremony - Yesterday ARK attended this event at Greenham Common Control Tower, where a sapling from the Sycamore Gap was planted. This is 1 of 49 that have been planted at various locations around the country.
#treeofhope #community
#treeofhope #community
November 23, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Tree of Hope Planting Ceremony - Yesterday ARK attended this event at Greenham Common Control Tower, where a sapling from the Sycamore Gap was planted. This is 1 of 49 that have been planted at various locations around the country.
#treeofhope #community
#treeofhope #community
Our CEO Charlotte Hitchmough last week gave a talk about our latest projects and activities to Newbury Society.
Thank you to everyone who attended. Pictured Charlotte with Newbury Society's Chairman Chris Marriage.
#chalkstream #loveyourriver
Thank you to everyone who attended. Pictured Charlotte with Newbury Society's Chairman Chris Marriage.
#chalkstream #loveyourriver
November 18, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Our CEO Charlotte Hitchmough last week gave a talk about our latest projects and activities to Newbury Society.
Thank you to everyone who attended. Pictured Charlotte with Newbury Society's Chairman Chris Marriage.
#chalkstream #loveyourriver
Thank you to everyone who attended. Pictured Charlotte with Newbury Society's Chairman Chris Marriage.
#chalkstream #loveyourriver
Our Connecting the Kennet project - another brilliant day in Marlborough improving this urban stretch of chalk stream.
Our 12 volunteers today planted lots more native marginal plants to establish buffer of riverbank vegetation; and pinned in 2 deflectors.
#chalkstream #riverrestoration
Our 12 volunteers today planted lots more native marginal plants to establish buffer of riverbank vegetation; and pinned in 2 deflectors.
#chalkstream #riverrestoration
November 11, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Our Connecting the Kennet project - another brilliant day in Marlborough improving this urban stretch of chalk stream.
Our 12 volunteers today planted lots more native marginal plants to establish buffer of riverbank vegetation; and pinned in 2 deflectors.
#chalkstream #riverrestoration
Our 12 volunteers today planted lots more native marginal plants to establish buffer of riverbank vegetation; and pinned in 2 deflectors.
#chalkstream #riverrestoration
Our Pang Project Manager and Project Officer were in London yesterday at the Thames Catchment Forum.
The theme was fundable catchment action plans, as well as networking & knowledge sharing with other catchment hosts from across the Thames catchment.
#healthyrivers
The theme was fundable catchment action plans, as well as networking & knowledge sharing with other catchment hosts from across the Thames catchment.
#healthyrivers
November 6, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Our Pang Project Manager and Project Officer were in London yesterday at the Thames Catchment Forum.
The theme was fundable catchment action plans, as well as networking & knowledge sharing with other catchment hosts from across the Thames catchment.
#healthyrivers
The theme was fundable catchment action plans, as well as networking & knowledge sharing with other catchment hosts from across the Thames catchment.
#healthyrivers
Today we've built a #rainwater planter next to Marlborough Community Fridge
We're back with our volunteers and Marlborough Town Council tomorrow to continue.
Rainwater planters are an attractive way of diverting rain.
ARK is working in Marlborough with the Town Council on #SuDs in the town.
We're back with our volunteers and Marlborough Town Council tomorrow to continue.
Rainwater planters are an attractive way of diverting rain.
ARK is working in Marlborough with the Town Council on #SuDs in the town.
November 6, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Today we've built a #rainwater planter next to Marlborough Community Fridge
We're back with our volunteers and Marlborough Town Council tomorrow to continue.
Rainwater planters are an attractive way of diverting rain.
ARK is working in Marlborough with the Town Council on #SuDs in the town.
We're back with our volunteers and Marlborough Town Council tomorrow to continue.
Rainwater planters are an attractive way of diverting rain.
ARK is working in Marlborough with the Town Council on #SuDs in the town.
6th and 7th November drop by Marlborough Community Fridge between 10am - 1pm and see us creating a new #rainwaterplanter
We're collaborating with Marlborough Town Council to help reduce rain overwhelming the drainage system or heading straight for the river.
www.kennetandpang.org/farms-and-su...
We're collaborating with Marlborough Town Council to help reduce rain overwhelming the drainage system or heading straight for the river.
www.kennetandpang.org/farms-and-su...
November 5, 2025 at 8:55 AM
6th and 7th November drop by Marlborough Community Fridge between 10am - 1pm and see us creating a new #rainwaterplanter
We're collaborating with Marlborough Town Council to help reduce rain overwhelming the drainage system or heading straight for the river.
www.kennetandpang.org/farms-and-su...
We're collaborating with Marlborough Town Council to help reduce rain overwhelming the drainage system or heading straight for the river.
www.kennetandpang.org/farms-and-su...
Our volunteers & Project Officer James have done a super job planting hundreds more native wetland plants at the new Sulham Wetland.
The rich mix of plants have created a wider variety of habitats and as the site matures biodiversity will continue to increase. #wetlands #biodiversity
The rich mix of plants have created a wider variety of habitats and as the site matures biodiversity will continue to increase. #wetlands #biodiversity
October 24, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Our volunteers & Project Officer James have done a super job planting hundreds more native wetland plants at the new Sulham Wetland.
The rich mix of plants have created a wider variety of habitats and as the site matures biodiversity will continue to increase. #wetlands #biodiversity
The rich mix of plants have created a wider variety of habitats and as the site matures biodiversity will continue to increase. #wetlands #biodiversity
Cooper's Meadow, Marlborough annual river corridor maintenance; this year our volunteers were from local business AM.
The team worked with us to carry out tree coppicing and height reduction of marginal vegetation.
A BIG thank you to AM for their help! #rivers #chalkstream
The team worked with us to carry out tree coppicing and height reduction of marginal vegetation.
A BIG thank you to AM for their help! #rivers #chalkstream
October 18, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Cooper's Meadow, Marlborough annual river corridor maintenance; this year our volunteers were from local business AM.
The team worked with us to carry out tree coppicing and height reduction of marginal vegetation.
A BIG thank you to AM for their help! #rivers #chalkstream
The team worked with us to carry out tree coppicing and height reduction of marginal vegetation.
A BIG thank you to AM for their help! #rivers #chalkstream
ARK Pollution Pickers
A morning outdoors by achalk stream 💦
Litter removed and where possible recycled ♻️
Students learn they can take positive action themselves to help improve their rivers🐟
Students work in groups to sort and count litter; and have produced their own data to use back at school 📊
A morning outdoors by achalk stream 💦
Litter removed and where possible recycled ♻️
Students learn they can take positive action themselves to help improve their rivers🐟
Students work in groups to sort and count litter; and have produced their own data to use back at school 📊
October 18, 2025 at 8:52 AM
ARK Pollution Pickers
A morning outdoors by achalk stream 💦
Litter removed and where possible recycled ♻️
Students learn they can take positive action themselves to help improve their rivers🐟
Students work in groups to sort and count litter; and have produced their own data to use back at school 📊
A morning outdoors by achalk stream 💦
Litter removed and where possible recycled ♻️
Students learn they can take positive action themselves to help improve their rivers🐟
Students work in groups to sort and count litter; and have produced their own data to use back at school 📊
Our conservation grazers in Cooper's Meadow, the water meadow next to the Kennet in the centre of Marlborough have today gone home.
Thank you to our ARK volunteer sheep lookers, without whom we couldn't do this ongoing project 🐏 and thank you to the sheep owners too. #biodiversity
Thank you to our ARK volunteer sheep lookers, without whom we couldn't do this ongoing project 🐏 and thank you to the sheep owners too. #biodiversity
September 28, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Our conservation grazers in Cooper's Meadow, the water meadow next to the Kennet in the centre of Marlborough have today gone home.
Thank you to our ARK volunteer sheep lookers, without whom we couldn't do this ongoing project 🐏 and thank you to the sheep owners too. #biodiversity
Thank you to our ARK volunteer sheep lookers, without whom we couldn't do this ongoing project 🐏 and thank you to the sheep owners too. #biodiversity
#BigRiverWatch on the Kennet on the east of Marlborough. Thank you volunteer Zoe!
Do join in this national survey run by The Rivers Trust anytime between now and 25th September.
For more detail:
theriverstrust.org/take-action/...
Do join in this national survey run by The Rivers Trust anytime between now and 25th September.
For more detail:
theriverstrust.org/take-action/...
September 24, 2025 at 5:35 AM
#BigRiverWatch on the Kennet on the east of Marlborough. Thank you volunteer Zoe!
Do join in this national survey run by The Rivers Trust anytime between now and 25th September.
For more detail:
theriverstrust.org/take-action/...
Do join in this national survey run by The Rivers Trust anytime between now and 25th September.
For more detail:
theriverstrust.org/take-action/...
Day 4 Connecting the Kennet, our community river habitat improvement project.
More volunteers donned waders and did a superb job working together to establish a healthy natural riverbank of native marginal plants in this internationally rare chalk stream. #riverrestoration
More volunteers donned waders and did a superb job working together to establish a healthy natural riverbank of native marginal plants in this internationally rare chalk stream. #riverrestoration
September 24, 2025 at 5:33 AM
Day 4 Connecting the Kennet, our community river habitat improvement project.
More volunteers donned waders and did a superb job working together to establish a healthy natural riverbank of native marginal plants in this internationally rare chalk stream. #riverrestoration
More volunteers donned waders and did a superb job working together to establish a healthy natural riverbank of native marginal plants in this internationally rare chalk stream. #riverrestoration
River School with 2nd Marlborough Cubs exploring areas with good flow, clean riverbed and aquatic plants to collect invertebrates, to indentify. As the light went Cubs used our bat detectors, to listen and watch Daubenton's bats hunting above the Kennet.
#biodiversity #loveyourriver #waterquality
#biodiversity #loveyourriver #waterquality
September 24, 2025 at 5:27 AM
River School with 2nd Marlborough Cubs exploring areas with good flow, clean riverbed and aquatic plants to collect invertebrates, to indentify. As the light went Cubs used our bat detectors, to listen and watch Daubenton's bats hunting above the Kennet.
#biodiversity #loveyourriver #waterquality
#biodiversity #loveyourriver #waterquality
Fish passage restored
A 1 metre wide notch has been cut into County Lock Weir, Reading to benefit fast swimming fish species.
Read our project summary:
www.yumpu.com/en/document/...
Thanks to our project partners the EA, Canal & River Trust FiveRivers and Robert Nicholas. #fishmigration
A 1 metre wide notch has been cut into County Lock Weir, Reading to benefit fast swimming fish species.
Read our project summary:
www.yumpu.com/en/document/...
Thanks to our project partners the EA, Canal & River Trust FiveRivers and Robert Nicholas. #fishmigration
September 17, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Fish passage restored
A 1 metre wide notch has been cut into County Lock Weir, Reading to benefit fast swimming fish species.
Read our project summary:
www.yumpu.com/en/document/...
Thanks to our project partners the EA, Canal & River Trust FiveRivers and Robert Nicholas. #fishmigration
A 1 metre wide notch has been cut into County Lock Weir, Reading to benefit fast swimming fish species.
Read our project summary:
www.yumpu.com/en/document/...
Thanks to our project partners the EA, Canal & River Trust FiveRivers and Robert Nicholas. #fishmigration
Day 3 on our #ConnectingtheKennet river habitat improvement project.
More fabulous volunteers, including new faces coppiced trees, used these for backfill in the buffer we're creating along the riverbank; and planted lots of flag iris, purple loosestrife & figwort. #healthyrivers #community
More fabulous volunteers, including new faces coppiced trees, used these for backfill in the buffer we're creating along the riverbank; and planted lots of flag iris, purple loosestrife & figwort. #healthyrivers #community
September 15, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Day 3 on our #ConnectingtheKennet river habitat improvement project.
More fabulous volunteers, including new faces coppiced trees, used these for backfill in the buffer we're creating along the riverbank; and planted lots of flag iris, purple loosestrife & figwort. #healthyrivers #community
More fabulous volunteers, including new faces coppiced trees, used these for backfill in the buffer we're creating along the riverbank; and planted lots of flag iris, purple loosestrife & figwort. #healthyrivers #community
A huge congratulations to our Education & Outreach Manager Anna Forbes, who is the winner of the #BBCMakeADifference Green Award 2025!
Anna is a passionate & committed advocate for our chalk streams & their wildlife; along with educating, inspiring & involving the community of all ages #chalkstream
Anna is a passionate & committed advocate for our chalk streams & their wildlife; along with educating, inspiring & involving the community of all ages #chalkstream
September 14, 2025 at 7:06 PM
A huge congratulations to our Education & Outreach Manager Anna Forbes, who is the winner of the #BBCMakeADifference Green Award 2025!
Anna is a passionate & committed advocate for our chalk streams & their wildlife; along with educating, inspiring & involving the community of all ages #chalkstream
Anna is a passionate & committed advocate for our chalk streams & their wildlife; along with educating, inspiring & involving the community of all ages #chalkstream
Day 2 for our Connecting the Kennet project.
Rain did not stop our fantastic volunteers from making plenty of progress improving this stretch of chalk stream in Marlborough.
To volunteer for ARK - Action for the River Kennet email anna@kennetandpang.org
#chalkstream #community
Rain did not stop our fantastic volunteers from making plenty of progress improving this stretch of chalk stream in Marlborough.
To volunteer for ARK - Action for the River Kennet email anna@kennetandpang.org
#chalkstream #community
September 14, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Day 2 for our Connecting the Kennet project.
Rain did not stop our fantastic volunteers from making plenty of progress improving this stretch of chalk stream in Marlborough.
To volunteer for ARK - Action for the River Kennet email anna@kennetandpang.org
#chalkstream #community
Rain did not stop our fantastic volunteers from making plenty of progress improving this stretch of chalk stream in Marlborough.
To volunteer for ARK - Action for the River Kennet email anna@kennetandpang.org
#chalkstream #community
Before & After
Coppicing trees yesterday on the riverbank at our successful Team Stream project, which was 10 years ago at the rear of Waitrose Marlborough.
This has:
Created a better balance of light and shade
Provided backfill 4 our new project upstream
Given the community a view of their river
Coppicing trees yesterday on the riverbank at our successful Team Stream project, which was 10 years ago at the rear of Waitrose Marlborough.
This has:
Created a better balance of light and shade
Provided backfill 4 our new project upstream
Given the community a view of their river
September 14, 2025 at 4:47 AM
Before & After
Coppicing trees yesterday on the riverbank at our successful Team Stream project, which was 10 years ago at the rear of Waitrose Marlborough.
This has:
Created a better balance of light and shade
Provided backfill 4 our new project upstream
Given the community a view of their river
Coppicing trees yesterday on the riverbank at our successful Team Stream project, which was 10 years ago at the rear of Waitrose Marlborough.
This has:
Created a better balance of light and shade
Provided backfill 4 our new project upstream
Given the community a view of their river
Our Education and Outreach Manager Anna has been in Bristol today attending the #wildsummituk
An inspiring day celebrating nature with plenty of discussions on the actions, investment and partnerships needed to restore our natural world.
We all need nature, with clean, flowing rivers being key.
An inspiring day celebrating nature with plenty of discussions on the actions, investment and partnerships needed to restore our natural world.
We all need nature, with clean, flowing rivers being key.
September 11, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Our Education and Outreach Manager Anna has been in Bristol today attending the #wildsummituk
An inspiring day celebrating nature with plenty of discussions on the actions, investment and partnerships needed to restore our natural world.
We all need nature, with clean, flowing rivers being key.
An inspiring day celebrating nature with plenty of discussions on the actions, investment and partnerships needed to restore our natural world.
We all need nature, with clean, flowing rivers being key.
Day 1 of our #ConnectingtheKennet project, improving healthy river habitat connectivity in Marlborough.
Our volunteers did a brilliant job today, building a brushwood mattress from hazel faggots they'd made last autumn. More green engineering over the coming days! #chalkstream #volunteer
Our volunteers did a brilliant job today, building a brushwood mattress from hazel faggots they'd made last autumn. More green engineering over the coming days! #chalkstream #volunteer
September 10, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Day 1 of our #ConnectingtheKennet project, improving healthy river habitat connectivity in Marlborough.
Our volunteers did a brilliant job today, building a brushwood mattress from hazel faggots they'd made last autumn. More green engineering over the coming days! #chalkstream #volunteer
Our volunteers did a brilliant job today, building a brushwood mattress from hazel faggots they'd made last autumn. More green engineering over the coming days! #chalkstream #volunteer
A HUGE thank you to our volunteer team today who loaded up and unloaded the truck 4 times with faggots and posts, ready for the start of our Connecting the Kennet River habitat improvement project tomorrow.
#volunteers #riverrestoration
#volunteers #riverrestoration
September 8, 2025 at 7:41 PM
A HUGE thank you to our volunteer team today who loaded up and unloaded the truck 4 times with faggots and posts, ready for the start of our Connecting the Kennet River habitat improvement project tomorrow.
#volunteers #riverrestoration
#volunteers #riverrestoration
Our Education & Outreach Manager Anna is a finalist in the BBC Wiltshire Radio Make a Difference Awards.
Anna has been shortlisted for The Green Award & will find out later this month if she has won. BBC's Dom Cotter caught up with her at the river www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... 51:58 in.
#rivers
Anna has been shortlisted for The Green Award & will find out later this month if she has won. BBC's Dom Cotter caught up with her at the river www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... 51:58 in.
#rivers
September 7, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Our Education & Outreach Manager Anna is a finalist in the BBC Wiltshire Radio Make a Difference Awards.
Anna has been shortlisted for The Green Award & will find out later this month if she has won. BBC's Dom Cotter caught up with her at the river www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... 51:58 in.
#rivers
Anna has been shortlisted for The Green Award & will find out later this month if she has won. BBC's Dom Cotter caught up with her at the river www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... 51:58 in.
#rivers
Our volunteers took the ARK stand to Marlborough Town Council's Wild Marlborough - Get Connected event.
Showcasing the different organisations and initiatives improving the town's biodiversity and how to get involved.
#chalkstream #biodiversity #community
Showcasing the different organisations and initiatives improving the town's biodiversity and how to get involved.
#chalkstream #biodiversity #community
September 7, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Our volunteers took the ARK stand to Marlborough Town Council's Wild Marlborough - Get Connected event.
Showcasing the different organisations and initiatives improving the town's biodiversity and how to get involved.
#chalkstream #biodiversity #community
Showcasing the different organisations and initiatives improving the town's biodiversity and how to get involved.
#chalkstream #biodiversity #community
ARK volunteers Tony & Barry have been on the Pang with our Project Officer James learning how to maintain our continuous monitoring equipment. The sondes kit takes a reading every 15 minutes for oxygen levels, temperature, nutrient concentrations (nitrate & ammonia), conductivity, pH and turbidity.
August 27, 2025 at 1:16 PM
ARK volunteers Tony & Barry have been on the Pang with our Project Officer James learning how to maintain our continuous monitoring equipment. The sondes kit takes a reading every 15 minutes for oxygen levels, temperature, nutrient concentrations (nitrate & ammonia), conductivity, pH and turbidity.