BBC Wildlife - UK (2020-08)

Cockw

se

from

top

eft:

Mke

Read/naturep

.com;

Mark

Sm

th/A

amy;

W

em

Ko

voort/

naturep

.com;

Jack

Perks/FLPA;

Mche

Roggo/naturep

.com;

Andrew

Mason/FLPA

Clockwisefromtopleft:

theRiverAvoninDorset,

wherewatercresslines

thebanks;watervoles

canbespottedamidthe

vegetation;thedelicate

whitebloomsofwater

crowfootgracestreams

inspringandsummer;

graylingarefoundin

fastflowingrivers;

theclearwaterofthe

RiverItchen;there’sno

mistaking a kingfisher.

August 2020 BBC Wildlife 19

WILDAUGUST

Eden”.Streamsingoodconditionmay

havebedsofuptofivespeciesofclosely

relatedwatercrowfootswayinginthe

current,togetherwithluxurious,green

beardedassemblagesofwaterstarwort,

watercressandwater parsnip.

Puredelight

Thecombinationoflushaquatic

vegetationandexcellentwaterquality

is perfectformayflies,caddisfliesand

stoneflies,whoseeggs,larvaeand

adultsinturnsustaina varietyoffish

• frombullheadstograyling,brown
  troutandbrooklamprey.Thefen-like
  banksidevegetationthatflourishes
  onanyuncanalisedstretchesalso
  supportsresurgentpopulations of
  water voles and otters.