After the Chiltern Society acquired the site of the former watercress beds at Ewelme in 2000, the emphasis of the SCV work programme switched to helping local people restore them. Joined also by the Sonning Common Green Gym, work began in earnest to complete the large project in time for the re-opening as a local nature reserve in 2004. A lot of work is still needed to maintain them, including an on-going task to keep the channels clear enough to allow the Ewelme Brook to flow without obstruction through the beds. December 2009
Author: C Ormonde