The Darent and Cray are groundwater fed chalk rivers located in north-west Kent and south-east London. Chalk rivers are characterised by clear water, abundant aquatic plants, low banks and comparatively stable flows, but the Darent and Cray like most rivers within the UK they are not as healthy as they should be. The Darent has suffered from over-abstraction in the past and has on a number of occasions virtually dried up on many sections. Both the Darent and Cray have been heavily modified to provide power for milling and current problems include pollution, non-native invasive species and physical modifications. As a result The Darent & Cray Catchment Improvement Group has been established to represent each of each of the rivers. The D&CCIG consists of organisations who represent the different interests on the Cray and Darent and who are working towards improving the quality of these unique water bodies. Stakeholders include an Environment Agency Catchment Co-ordinator and a Catchment host. The Catchment Host role is delivered by NWKCP. As a group, we are committed to working together to encourage greater local participation at catchment level and to achieve more for people and the chalk river environment.
To do this we undertake catchment planning which aims to explore environmental issues, challenges and opportunities relating to the Darent, Cray and Shuttle Rivers at a local level through stakeholder engagement. This approach will connect existing activities and foster local ownership for greater action and engagement.
For more information please contact Mark.

We have been carrying out work to mitigate against erosion along some of the river banks that potentially could lead to flooding and siltation. The technique we have been using incorporates installing stakes, bound together with hazel wands to stabilise the bank and allow vegetation to establish. This work has been delivered along the Cray at Hall Place Recreation Ground, with the help of our volunteers.
For more information please contact Mark.

In partnership with the Rivers Trust, the North West Kent Countryside Partnership is currently delivering the Preventing Plastic Plastic Project on the Darent, Cray, Shuttle and Danson Stream.
The PPP project is a European (INTERREG) FUNDED anglo-french project (being delivered on rivers and coasts in the UK and France), the aim of the scheme is to work with local groups in collecting, weighing and quantifying rubbish in our rivers and streams.
The results of each clean up/survey is then uploaded on to the Preventing Plastic Pollution database and will help to identify the worse types of plastic pollution and the areas most affected by this pollution.
For more information please contact Mark.

NWKCP is actively trying to encourage people to take ownership of their section of river in their local area through the Darent Environmental Enhancement Programme (DEEP). We aim to achieve this by setting up River Action Groups throughout the Darent Valley, whilst supporting existing groups on the Cray and Shuttle.
For more information please contact Mark.

NWKCP are actively working in partnership with Kent County Council Flood and Water Management Teams to deliver a suite of Natural Flood Management (NFM) in Kent. Current projects include working in partnership to deliver the soft landscaping elements of a NFM scheme at St Katherine`s school in Snodland.
Contact Mark for further details.

The North West Kent Countryside Partnership is currently working with the Rangers Service and volunteers at the Ashdown Forest to install a series of leaky dams that will help to intercept flows before they reach one of the ponds in the forest and cause serious erosion to the waterbody.
For more information contact Mark