Sometimes, being a constituency MP, you get the chance to do things that really allow you to see a situation through another’s eyes. One such occasion was when some years ago a constituent Ian, suggested we walked where he had played as a boy in Fornham by the edge of the Lark. He spoke of his love of the area and its history and the purpose of the Lark, what I got from him was his ‘need’ to do something about its distress.
I knew much of the challenge having been involved since the first River Lark Catchment Partnership meeting back in 2015 where the challenges of water quality and paucity in our region were discussed. Something that becomes ever more relevant year on year, especially as temperatures rise and rainfall diminishes. But, Ian’s walk and talk made me truly appreciate its importance not only physically but mentally for people too. How our lives are linked to nature and how our needs are not always financial.
The Lark, is one of only about 250 chalk rivers in the world, they occur mostly in England and provide clear, constant water from underground chalk aquifers and springs. They are globally rare habitats and they support, when healthy a unique aquatic ecosystem. The Lark is a historically degraded river, we have not been kind arguably, over the past 100 plus years but, really importantly it does retain the potential to support a flourishing chalk river ecology for lots of creatures to breed and thrive.
The reason progress has been made thus far, is the hard work of volunteers doing restoration work, survey work and cleaning, and partnership working; Andrew, Glen, Jim, Steph and a whole raft of people giving time and expertise. The catchment spreads over a wide area from Bury to Mildenhall and the surrounding villages so working together is vital. From Anglian Water, the Environment Agency, Norfolk Rivers Trust, Water Resources East and too many others to mention this project, to ensure the River Lark is revived is backed by the governments National Chalk Stream Recovery Strategy and is one of the 12 flagship projects and aiming to restore it to the best state possible by 2030.
A couple of weeks ago, Rebecca Pow MP, the former Environment Minister who put the landmark Environment Act through Parliament joined the group to hear about the work, the ambition and why this chalk stream is so vital. We looked at the Water Recycling Centre at Fornham and discussed the challenges of phosphates, flow and regulatory barriers. We heard of commitments given by those involved to drive this work forward and the budget constraints. Like anything this is a knotty, complex problem but highlighting the need to work together and being focused on the outcome is a good start.
We finished the four-hour meeting at Fullers Mill, a 7-acre garden on the banks of the Lark gifted to Perennial - the only charity looking after people in horticulture and their families, and it is well worth a visit. Here we concluded with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, a crucial step in ensuring the Lark is restored to the best state possible with speed. Later I discussed with Rebecca my desire for these arteries of life in our area to carry protected – something I am intending to push for on my return to Parliament.
Some of you might be reading this and wondering why I am focused on this when there is a global energy crisis. Many of you have told me of your concern about the uncertainty around prices, especially going into winter, and are worried particularly for the vulnerable. But these things are linked for me, as it is about how we work together to overcome a challenge, how we help each other deliver a better future both in the short and long-term, and how the natural environment can help sustain us.
