• Chalk stream fly fishing in Hampshire UK
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Test & Itchen Association

HELP US PROTECT THE HAMPSHIRE CHALKSTREAMS

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Latest News

2026 Weed Cutting Dates

The weed cutting dates for 2026 are now available after confirmation by the Environment Agency.

Parish Councils are encouraged to make the dates available on notice boards, so that parishioners understand when they should and should not be cutting weed in the river. We are encouraging everyone to restrict weed cutting to what is absolutely necessary and to be very selective in what they cut. There is growing evidence that our aquifer recharge could be low this winter, which will increase the chances of drought next summer. Weed helps hold water in the river, so please consider that when cutting weed. Please note any text in red in on the first page denotes a change to previous years.

River Test Weed Cutting Dates 2026
River Itchen Weed Cutting Dates 2026

The Test and Itchen Association

Help us Protect the Birthplace of Fly Fishing

Test & Itchen Association

About the Chalkstreams

River Management

This is Members Only Password Protected Content.

Find the latest data, research and guidance on the ecological health of the rivers and river management.

Members’ Area
River Test Chalkstream Hampshire

Our Iconic Chalk Streams Are at Risk

The Test, Itchen and Meon rivers are chalk stream rivers, one of the rarest habitats on the planet. The Test & Itchen are both classified as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), with the Itchen additionally designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Chalk streams are globally rare, with only around 200 in the world. The unique nature of chalk streams comes from the chalk bedrock aquifer. When the rock is full and can hold no more, water bursts out in the form of springs. It is highly filtered, cool and mineral rich water with a constant flow. These conditions are ideal for the rare chalk stream salmon, a sub species of the Atlantic Salmon, which is now officially endangered.

Chalk streams are typically shallow and very finely balanced river systems whose eco-system is highly sensitive when too much water is removed and the flow decreases.  Over-abstraction of water from the rivers, sewage overflows and chemical pollution is now putting these valuable eco-systems – and the salmonids and all aquatic life that depend on them – at risk.

Saving the Chalk Stream Salmon

We are working with river owners, local partners and the Environment Agency to bring chalk stream salmon back to the Test & Itchen at sustainable levels. Find out what we are doing and how you can help.

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Test & Itchen Association Atlantic Salmon

What’s Damaging the Hampshire Chalk Streams?

Our precious chalk stream rivers are under threat from pollution and removal of their water at unsustainable levels to supply homes and businesses. The chalk stream salmon for which they are famous is now an endangered species. The Test & Itchen Association is working to save our rivers and restore them to health so that future generations will continue to fish their waters for years to come.

25,000 hours

of untreated sewage discharged by Southern Water into the Rivers Test, Itchen & Meon in 2023

238 pollutants

identified in a test of our waters in 2022

253,000

homes that are supplied with water from the Test & Itchen

70,000

Planned new homes to supply with water by 2040

How to Help

Become a member of the Test & Itchen Association. Volunteer. Or simply save water at home. Here’s how you can help.

Get Involved

What will Protect the Hampshire Chalk Streams?

Reducing the Water Taken From Our Rivers

Southern Water rely on our rivers to supply water to homes and businesses, often at ecologically harmful levels, particularly in times of drought. In 2018 a legally binding agreement was made that Southern Water find an alternative source of water to end the this practice. Due to be in place by 2027 at the latest, Southern Water continue to delay.

Stopping Sewage Pollution

Untreated or partially treated sewage is regularly discharged into our rivers by Southern Water. This happens when the wastewater treatment plants cannot keep up with the pressure on them, particularly in wet weather. Some of these discharges are actually legally permitted by the Environment Agency under a system of permits. We need illegal sewage dumping to stop and permitted levels to be reduced.

Reducing Chemical Pollutants

Pollution from agriculture, road runoff, urban pollution and other chemical pollutants in treated water all find their way into our rivers. They harm or kill aquatic life, are a threat to the health of people and animals, cause algae to bloom and de-oxygenate the rivers. We need action at national, local and household level to reduce each one of these sources of pollution.

Fishing on the Test & Itchen

Would you like to fish on the Hampshire chalk streams? Accredited fishing guides and companies can give you lessons or show experienced anglers the best spots on the river to fish. Book yourself a fantastic day on the river.

Go Fishing
Fishing River Test

Find Out About Fly Fishing

If you haven’t tried fly fishing before and would like to know more about it, read our articles which will introduce you to the joys of this wonderful sport. Our latest article is by Jim Murray, actor and Activist Angler.

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Members' Area
Save the Salmon
Go Fishing

Become a Member of the Test & Itchen Association

The Test & Itchen Association is a membership organisation, funded entirely by our members and donations from supporters. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in or a love of Hampshire’s chalkstreams. Our members include river owners, river keepers, conservationists, members of the local community, local business owners and those who simply enjoy the world class fishing or want to preserve the rivers’ unique environmental heritage. We all care deeply about the future of the chalkstreams.

Individual Members

Membership of the Association is open to anyone who shares our interest in conserving and protecting the Hampshire chalkstreams. You may be someone who loves to fish their waters, an environmentalist or simply a nature lover. Membership for River Keepers is free in recognition of their valuable contribution to the life of the rivers.

Owner Members

Owner members are absolutely fundamental to the work of the Test & Itchen. There is no obligation for an owner of a stretch of the rivers to be a member of the Association. However, most choose to join because of what we can achieve when we work together to protect the rivers.

Commercial Supporters

The Rivers Test, Itchen and Meon are an important part of the local economy. Our commercial supporters are local businesses who value the contribution of our rivers and want to help protect them. If you are a business that would like to support our work, please contact us to discuss the benefits of becoming a commercial supporter.

Membership

If you would like to support our work conserving and protecting the Test, Itchen and Meon rivers, then please help us by joining our association.

Join Us

Photographs reproduced by kind permission of: Elizabeth Dalziel, Jem Dunn, Hampshire Tourist Board/David Packman; Ken Takata/Fishing Breaks; Neil Freeman/Chalk Stream Fishing Ltd; John Slader.

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