The River Snail Community Project

🌿 River Snail & Soham Lode Community: Protecting a Rare Chalk Stream

The River Snail and Soham Lode form one of the catchments being studied by the LoCaL Project with a sub-group of local volunteers – the River Snail Community Group – dedicated to protecting and enhancing the unique habitats and wildlife of this remarkable river system – and everyone who shares this passion is warmly invited to get involved.

🏞 A river shaped by nature and history

The River Snail is a fourteen‑mile chalk stream fed by the Snailwell springs, Newmarket Brook, and the Chippenham Fen ditch. Beyond Fordham it becomes Soham Lode, flowing through landscapes that have shaped the history of two towns and two villages.

Chalk streams are among the rarest freshwater habitats on Earth – around 85% of the world’s chalk streams are found in England. Their clear, mineral‑rich waters support plants and wildlife found nowhere else, yet these fragile ecosystems face growing pressures.

🤝 How you can help

We are looking for volunteers and supporters to help care for the Soham Lode and River Snail catchment. There are many ways to get involved:

• Litter picks — hands‑on, visible impact
• Informative talks — learn and share knowledge
• Practical volunteer days — habitat care, riverbank work, seasonal tasks
• Training days — build skills and confidence
• Citizen science — wildlife surveys, water‑quality monitoring
• Donating or fundraising — support equipment, events, and project costs
• Sharing skills — photography, admin, design, teaching, event support, and more

🌱 Working together

We collaborate with individuals, community groups, local authorities, landowners, and other stakeholders to champion the long‑term health of our river system.

📩 Get in touch

If you’d like to help – or simply learn more with no obligation – please contact: riversnailcommunity@gmail.com

We are particularly interested if you would like to help with sampling the river.