The River Path The River Path
Watercress Beds
Watercress beds so characteristic of the heads of chalk streams, comprise shallow gravel based compartments with relatively warm spring water with an even flow running through them. Before watercress was intensively produced, the beds could harbour a rich invertebrate population throughout the winter, providing food for ducks, waders and water shrews.
Once widespread, watercress beds dwindled in number owing to contamination by liver fluke (a gut parasite which we share with sheep). Now to comply with their industry's Code of Practice they must be fed by water direct from springs or groundwater to be assured of purity.
Applications of pesticides such as Malathion and Dimethoate to control beetles and other small invertebrates, or of zinc to eradicate crookfoot, or bed cleaning which may send concentrations of silt downstream, must now be approved by the Environment Agency.
The picture shows John Hurd's organic watercress farm at Longbridge Deverill in the Wylye valley, Wiltshire.
