River Blackwater (River Loddon)

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Blackwater
The Source Of The River Blackwater at Rowhill
Origin	Rowhill
Basin countries	England
Length	27 km (17 mi)
Source elevation	135 m (443 ft)

The River Blackwater is a tributary of the River Loddon and, indirectly, of the River Thames. It rises at Rowhill on the outskirts of Aldershot between Aldershot and Farnham in the English county of Hampshire and runs in a northerly direction to join the Loddon near the village of Swallowfield in Berkshire. Along part of its length, the river forms the boundary between Hampshire and Surrey, and then between Hampshire and Berkshire. The River Blackwater is the centre piece of the whole Valley it rises in Rowhill Nature Reserve, Aldershot and after 20 miles joins with the River Whitewater near Eversley. Over the last 200 years it has suffered form neglect and encroaching urbanisation. However in recent years much has been done to improve water quality and restore the riparian environment and habitats along the river. It is now once again and rightly the centre piece of the Valley, the thread that links all the Valley and its facilities. Wildlife is returning, including the Otter which has been absent for over 40 years, fishing stocks are improving and the construction of the long distance riverside path has opened up much of the riverbank to enable everyone to enjoy its waterside landscape. The Blackwater Valley is maintained as an open space along the borders of the English counties of Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey. It runs for approximately 30 km, from the source of the River Blackwater at Rowhill Nature Reserve near Aldershot in the south, northwards to Swallowfield where the river joins the River Whitewater and then the Loddon. The Loddon eventually flows into the River Thames near Reading. Despite being surrounded by urban development the Valley provides an important green corridor for local residents As well as the Blackwater Valley Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a small part of the Basingstoke Canal SSSI, three nature reserves within the Valley catchment and many other areas have been recognised for their ecological importance. The local planning authorities covering the Valley have designated 31 other areas as ‘Wildlife Sites’

Rowhill is an isolated remnant of the extensive heathland that once surrounded Farnborough and Aldershot. What is left of the heathland is used by the British Army for training exercises.

The Blackwater Valley forms a green corridor. The peace and quiet of this green corridor has been destroyed in recent years by the construction of the Blackwater Valley Relief Road (A331), a motorway in all but name. A cycle route runs alongside the River Blackwater for most of its length.

The river gives its name to the small town of Blackwater, Hampshire, upon the river near Camberley.

The Basingstoke Canal runs east west from the Greywell Tunnel at Greywell to the River Wey. It crosses the Blackwater Valley on an embankment. The River Blackwater used to flow under the embankment in a culvert. Following the construction of the relief road, the Basingstoke Canal now crosses the River Blackwater via the spectacular Ash Aqueduct. Bats that used to roost in the culvert now live in a purpose-built bat house on a nearby island.

The new aqueduct affords views of the surrounding countryside. In the distance to the south is the Hog's Back. This is where the North Downs narrows. It runs between Farnham and Guildford. Guildford lies in a gap in the North Downs, cut by the River Wey. The Hogs Back Brewery, a small local brewery, lies just off the Hog's Back. There is a running club named Blackwater Valley Runners who run there regularly