Subscribe to get notified about new events!

Letcombe Brook Project

LXCL:Letcombe Brook Project aims to enhance local biodiversity around our globally rare chalk stream. We promote community engagement through conservation efforts, habitat restoration, educational initiatives and well-being through nature. We protect, enhance and restore the brook and its natural processes, for wildlife and communities.

Join a practical, hands-on afternoon caring for Letcombe Brook. No prior experience needed; guidance and tools are provided on the day. Typical tasks include litter picking (either in the brook or alongside the banks), loping, scything (for trained people) and raking overgrown areas. All activities support our mission to protect and improve this rare chalk stream for local people and nature. &nbsp;We have a few waders for people wishing to work in the brook. &nbsp;Children are welcome but are the responsibility of their parents for the whole time. &nbsp;People aged under 16 may be unable to use certain tools depending on age. We will meet at Marygreen in Grove (please see map - Google Maps plus code: JH5G+GF2 Wantage). &nbsp;The nearest parking is at Old Mill Hall (OX12 7LB).<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1781275663/wysiwyg/o3pc53kutnwxjgijiqoh.jpg" style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; user-select: none; max-width: 100%; position: relative; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">

Weekend Volunteering at the Brook

Join the Letcombe Brook Project as we go river dipping in the Letcombe Brook at the Willow Walk Community Nature Reserve. Find out what creatures live in and around the brook and why the brook is so important to our wildlife. &nbsp;Meet Cat from the Letcombe Brook Project at the Willow Walk Community Nature Reserve (Wantage OX12 9EN) at the correct time for the session booked. This is right next to a bus stop. &nbsp;Parking can be found near Sainsburys or nearby residential streets (please be mindful to not block driveways).<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1780652711/wysiwyg/aauzky8fkhuica2dfm3b.jpg" style="width: 387px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; user-select: none; max-width: 100%; position: relative; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 387px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">&pound;2 per child to attend and tickets must be booked in advance. In the case of poor weather, you will be informed of the session cancellation by 9am on the day of the activity. These sessions are for children aged 5 years upwards. Children under 5 years will not be admitted. There is a toddler session and teen session available in the summer. The children will not be going into the brook but there is a chance they may get wet, so please dress accordingly. There is also limited shade and no toilets.<br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times and a maximum of two children per adult please, to ensure children are safe around the brook and with live animals.

Chalk Stream Critters at the Letcombe Brook Wantage

A chance for our younger members of the community to spend some time at the Letcombe Brook. &nbsp;Find out about some of the animals that live around the brook through stories and songs. &nbsp;Find out how to keep safe near water and how to look after the nature around us.&nbsp;Meet Cat from the Letcombe Brook Project at the Willow Walk Community Nature Reserve (Wantage OX12 9EN, Google Maps Plus code: HHVG+WJ8 Wantage - type into Google Maps) for a prompt start. &nbsp;This is right next to a bus stop. &nbsp;<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1780668326/wysiwyg/dvfr2hmh5oc1twczfyq6.jpg" style="width: 361px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; user-select: none; max-width: 100%; position: relative; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 361px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">In the case of poor weather, you will be informed of the session cancellation by 9am on the day of the activity. This session is aimed at children who can walk to the age of 5.&nbsp;Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times and a maximum of two children per adult please. This is to ensure the safety of children around the brook.

Letcombe Brook Toddle Along

Aimed at secondary school aged pupils, this session concentrates on catching and identifying invertebrates that live in the Letcombe Brook. &nbsp;Learn how to kick-sample to collect animals and how to identify them. &nbsp;Then comes the fun part of trying to count them! Ecologists use data from riverfly samples to determine the health of waterways so you will be helping to look after this rare habitat. &nbsp;You will be going into the brook so wellies are essential - sliders or other water shoes are not suitable as you will be kicking stones. &nbsp; Please contact Educationofficer@Letcombebrook.org.uk if finding wellies is a barrier to attending this session as we may have some that can be borrowed. Attendees will need to meet Cat from the Letcombe Brook Project outside Old Mill Hall, School Lane, Grove, OX12 7LB. &nbsp;In the case of poor weather, you will be informed of the session cancellation by 9am on the day of the activity. These sessions are for children aged 11 years upwards. Children under the age of 14 will need to accompanied by an adult (maximum of 3 children per adult). &nbsp;Young people over the age of 14 can be unaccompanied with a signed parental form (which you will be sent in your confirmation email).

Teen Riverfly monitoring

Join the Letcombe Brook Project as we go river dipping in the Letcombe Brook next to Old Mill Hall. Find out what creatures live in and around the brook and why the brook is so important to our wildlife. &nbsp;Meet Cat from the Letcombe Brook Project just behind Old Mill Hall at your chosen time slot.<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1783593686/wysiwyg/irrfocgopns6bvavewq9.jpg" style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; user-select: none; max-width: 100%; position: relative; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">&pound;2 per child to attend and tickets must be booked in advance. In the case of poor weather, you will be informed of the session cancellation by 9am on the day of the activity. These sessions are for children aged 5 years upwards. Children under 5 years will not be admitted. There is a toddler session and teen session available in the summer.The children will not be going into the brook but there is a chance they may get wet, so please dress accordingly. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times and a maximum of two children per adult please to ensure children are safe around the brook and with live animals.

Chalk Stream Critters at the Letcombe Brook Grove

Take time to explore the beauty of nature at the Willow Walk Community Nature Reserve, noting the shapes and patterns of the plants around you. &nbsp;Find out about the animals who make their home around the Letcombe Brook and use this to create cyanotype images using cut-out templates, leaves and the sun. &nbsp;Take home a beautiful, framed picture.&nbsp;Meet Cat from the Letcombe Brook Project at the Willow Walk Community Nature Reserve (OX12 9EN, Goggle maps Plus code: HHVG+WJ4 Wantage) at the correct time for the session booked. Harcourt Way bus stop is the closest stop . There are a couple of benches at the site and we will bring tarpaulin to sit on but please bring a chair if you wish to sit on one.&nbsp;<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1780656361/wysiwyg/s7bugmjtlykblwwifcge.jpg" style="width: 425px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; user-select: none; max-width: 100%; position: relative; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 425px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">Tickets cost &pound;5 for participants which covers the cost of the materials. &nbsp;In the case of poor weather, you will be informed of the session cancellation by 9am on the day of the activity. These sessions are more suited to over 7s but can be achieved with younger school age children with parental support.As we will be using the sun to create our images, we will need to spend time in the full sun so please ensure sun lotion is applied. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult at all times and a maximum of three children per adult please. This is to ensure the safety of children around the brook. Young people over the age of 14 can be unaccompanied with a signed parental form (link sent after ticket purchase).

Art for the Heart - Cyanotype prints

Join the Letcombe Brook Project for a relaxed evening of art and wellbeing.You don&rsquo;t need to be an experienced artist&mdash;this session is about using creativity to connect with nature and enjoy the benefits for your wellbeing.Artist Rhiannon Galvin will begin with a short charcoal demonstration (around 30 minutes). Afterwards, you&rsquo;ll have time to find a spot along the brook and create your own piece inspired by the surroundings. Rhiannon will be available for guidance if you&rsquo;d like help.Basic materials (paper, charcoal and watercolour pencils) will be provided, but feel free to bring your own.Please note there is limited seating (one bench), so you may wish to bring something to sit on.We will meet by the bridge with the Letcombe Brook information board in Willow Walk. The Google Plus Code is: HHVG+WJ4 Wantage (copy this into Google Maps for an exact location)<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1779462967/wysiwyg/hp0g9r8krgjfq18l7svh.jpg" style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; user-select: none; max-width: 100%; position: relative; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">

Art for the Heart

Your gift helps to bring light back to the Letcombe Brook. Together, we protect and restore this 12‑kilometre chalk stream so wildlife can thrive and local people can enjoy a healthy, living brook. This winter we want our volunteers to cut back the suffocating reeds in the ancient Letcombe fen, let the light back in and plant a forgotten wildflower that naturally keeps the reeds at bay, restoring wetlands for water voles. Donations support practical work such as habitat restoration, reducing pollution and flooding risk, and caring for the Letcombe Brook Corridor as a shared green space for our community. Thank you for helping us look after the brook today and for the years ahead.

Your gift helps to bring light back to the Letcombe Brook. Together, we protect and restore this 12‑kilometre chalk stream so wildlife can thrive and local people can enjoy a healthy, living brook.This winter we want our volunteers to cut back the suffocating reeds in the ancient Letcombe fen, let the light back in and plant a forgotten wildflower that naturally keeps the reeds at bay, restoring wetlands for water voles.Donations support practical work such as habitat restoration, reducing pollution and flooding risk, and caring for the Letcombe Brook Corridor as a shared green space for our community.Thank you for helping us look after the brook today and for the years ahead.

Letcombe Brook Project

Letcombe Brook Project

Letcombe Brook Project

Past events

Past events

View event

Weekend Volunteering at the Brook

View event

Chalk Stream Critters at the Letcombe Brook Wantage

View event

Letcombe Brook Toddle Along

View event

Teen Riverfly monitoring

View event

Chalk Stream Critters at the Letcombe Brook Grove

View event

Chalk Stream Critters at the Letcombe Brook Grove

More ways to support us

Donate now

Bringing light back to the Letcombe Brook

Powered by

.css-3ng1ow a{color:inherit;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-3ng1ow a:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:hsl(206, 0%, 100%);}Letcombe Brook Project

Letcombe Brook Project

Past events

Past events

View event

Weekend Volunteering at the Brook

View event

Chalk Stream Critters at the Letcombe Brook Wantage

View event

Letcombe Brook Toddle Along

View event

Teen Riverfly monitoring

View event

Chalk Stream Critters at the Letcombe Brook Grove

View event

Chalk Stream Critters at the Letcombe Brook Grove

More ways to support us

Donate now

Bringing light back to the Letcombe Brook

Powered by

Letcombe Brook Project