River Tarrant & Its Villages River Tarrant
The River Tarrant is deemed a ‘winterborne’ by Wessex Water, drying out in summer. However, this classification normally applies more to the river from Tarrant Hinton northerly: the river usually runs all year from Tarrant Monkton, with contributary streams joining it at Monkton ford.
There is a R. Tarrant Protection/Preservation Society:
as at 2011 RTPS 2011 and as at 2000 RTPS
December 2012 – see River Tarrant News Dec 2012
River Tarrant How You Can Help.
November 2012
The River Tarrant has been running well all year, due to a wet Spring & Summer. However, heavy downpours have occasionally caused rafts of weed to break loose and float down river.
November 2011
The River Tarrant has been dry in Tarrant Monkton since July. It is flowing at Tarrant Rawston and further south. The RTPS asked for funds to commission an investigation on the validity of surveys that had been carried in the past on the problem of low-flow, and whether abstraction from the two pumping stations at Stubhampton and Shapwick was in fact the partial cause. Plans are also going ahead to make it less difficult for the spawning salmon and trout to surmount several obstacles, and it is possible that some of these may be ready for the 2012 spawning season.
Consultant report 2012-01-05 RTPS – Tarrant Times Article March 2019
river tarrant – tarrant times october 2019
High Water 30Nov12
From Monkton 30Nov12
Tarrant Flow Problems Pg1 Pg2
Fish saved from R.Tarrant (B’mouth Echo July 2011)
Dry Tarrant Aug 1995
Dry July 2011
I have resided in this area since 1968 when my father was posted to Blandford camp and have spent many a childhood day fishing, paddling and cycling through the tarrant valley. In those days I never saw it dry up like it does now and to hear it being classified as a winterborne is just a convenience of the water board. I wish to know if there is an organisation I could become involved in.
Hello Anthony,
If you read the October 2019 Tarrant Times you will see that Wessex Water is on the case.
A copy of the article is now on the village website under Info/River Tarrant – October 2019 …
The RTPS is run by Sarah Worrall at Launceston Farm. So, she might be able to help if you want to be involved.
John Goode
Thank you John for your response I will follow that lead up
Anthony Beddingfield