About us

The Upper Itchen Restoration Community Interest Company was formed in November 2024, by 7 founding members who are concerned about the degradation of the upper Itchen.  At present there is no clear understanding of the reasons for the decline over the last several decades in fly life, and other related aspects of the ecosystem.

We are a not-for-profit company, dedicated to protecting, conserving and enhancing the aquatic environment that supports and contributes to the wellbeing of communities in this catchment.  These include landowners and riparian owners, managers of agriculture and aquaculture, those using the river for recreational purposes, local residents and visitors who value these precious chalk streams and who benefit from the ecosystem services that this catchment provides.

We mobilise local citizen scientists to observe and collect relevant data, in collaboration with academic and other experts in each field.  Volunteer citizen scientists can become a powerful source of advocacy for nature within our community.

Our water quality studies will bring clarity to the community, resident and non-resident, on what is in the water, and the risks to both wildlife and humans.  These will provide evidence to share with the Environment Agency and other regulators, and enhance the knowledge and ability of local people to seek changes to causes of point and diffuse pollution.

Results will be made freely available within the community and will form the basis of a body of knowledge to inform recreational and business activities, as well as future decisions by planning authorities.  Public engagement will be sought to inform and empower local people and businesses to understand and adopt nature-friendly choices.

Sharing results with other chalk stream communities will enable comparative assessment and the wider dissemination of knowledge to support action.