The website top-of-the-poops has recorded at least 26 sewage dumps into the River Ivel in 2025. The discharges lasted more than 152 hours.
The data set does not capture all sewage discharges. Ivel tributaries, like the River Hiz, have not all been accounted for when collecting the sewage spill data.
For the full report, please go to the following website – https://top-of-the-poops.org/waterway/anglian-water/river-ivel
In recent months, RevIvel has been working with John Lawson to update a water management strategy to help protect and restore the River Ivel.
The work with John builds on his earlier findings that the upper Ivel is one of the UK’s most heavily abstracted chalk streams.
The latest strategic update will be summarised and circulated to RevIvel members, local water companies, and key government officials. It builds on the work of the “Chalk-Streams First” initiative (www.chalkstreams.org).
More updates to follow………
Thursday 26th November 2026 @ 8pm
Brendan King will be giving a talk about the history of the upper River Ivel at the Baldock Arts & Heritage Centre.
All welcome. Non-members £3. Please come along and support the Baldock Museum & Local History Society.
Website – https://www.bahc.co.uk/
RevIvel has been told that a Water Vole was spotted last month near Sandy, Bedfordshire! We are working to confirm the report but this news is promising.
If you think you have seen a water vole, please do contact your local Wildlife Trust to report the sighting. Thank you.
In September, The Rivers Trust invited people across the UK and Ireland to visit their local river, reconnect with nature, and help build a clearer picture of river health by taking part in the seventh Big River Watch.
Link to the Big River Watch Report here – https://theriverstrust.org/big-river-watch-september-2026-report
Thank you to RevIvel members for getting involved and supporting this initiative.
North Herts Council is celebrating the importance of protecting the district’s chalk streams and wetlands as part of ongoing efforts to conserve some of the world’s rarest freshwater habitats.
See the full news article here – https://www.north-herts.gov.uk/news/how-north-herts-protecting-some-worlds-rarest-chalk-streams
RevIvel enjoyed participating again at the Stotfold Mill Steam Fair in October. Over two days, the RevIvel volunteers were able to educate visitors about the current state of the upper Ivel, and the impact of the weather conditions over the past few months.
Flow along the upper Ivel from Baldock to Radwell continues to be heavily depleted compared to previous years. Lack of rainfall over the summer, and higher demand for water in Letchworth and Baldock is definitely having a visible impact on the Ivel.
The quantity and variety of aquatic life in this chalk stream at Stotfold Mill is also noticeably lower than normal.
The weather behaved over the two-day event and the Ivel looked beautiful through the windows of the Mill.
We welcomed a steady stream of visitors to our stall. It was a great opportunity to educate the local community about the impact of water abstraction on the river. And to sign up new members to help protect this vital local chalk stream.
THANK YOU AND SEE YOU AGAIN AT STOTFOLD MILL NEXT YEAR!
UPDATE
The RevIvel 2026 AGM will take place from 2:30pm-5:00pm on Saturday 5th September 2026.
The venue is Radwell Village Hall (https://www.radwellvillagehall.com/).
The AGM is open to anyone with an interest in protecting the River Ivel.
RevIvel hosted a well-attended walk for Members on Sunday, 5th July.
The walk from Baldock to Stotfold stopped for a behind-the-scenes look at the site where RevIvel is installing its own water flow monitoring station.
A quick survey of the river found an abundance of life living in the upper Ivel at Radwell.
A huge thank you to everyone at Stotfold Mill for the warm welcome and delicious cream tea.
Stotfold Mill is open on various dates across the summer. The Mill is a working museum where you can see the power of the River Ivel turning the milling wheels.
The next open days are:
Stotfold Mill has a cafe. It’s a great location for a day out.
More details available here: https://www.stotfoldmill.com/plan-your-visit/open-dates-and-times/