]> 2026-04-15T07:25:23+00:00 Case study:Kensworth Quarry Chalk Pit Restoration 500 en Approved Ver Valley Yes Yes Yes false Yes There are no lessons learnt as yet. We are keen to get insights from any similar projects targeting river flow restoration/support through perched reservoirs derived from upland mining operations. 51.8656525,-0.5209689 Adam Ver Valley Hillier ,, ,,, The project is in the very early evaluation stage focusing on stakeholder outreach, regional planning advice and technical advice in hydro-engineering and pumped hydro storage assessment. Preliminary work suggests a short pipe line connection from the perched reservoir to the source of the River Ver could provide 3000 litres per second of flow support to the river for up to 30 days. 26520 Kensworth Quarry Kensworth Quarry 1 .jpg Planned Kensworth Quarry is the UK's largest chalk pit and is one of the largest in the world. It is located to the top of the Chilterns ridge close to the (now dry) head valleys of the River Ver which is is one of only 200 Chalk streams in the world. The River Ver, like many other Chiltern chalk streams, has suffered from unsustainable water abstraction to support local development needs. Over the past decade the river has ceased to flow on the Chilterns dip slope above Redbourne and without hydro-support it is quite possible that the river will disappear above St Albans within the next couple of decades. It is thought that River Ver has been flowing in this area since the Anglian Glacation 400,000 years ago and there may be a fantastic and unique opportunity to secure its future for a while longer. Production from Kensworth Quarry is due to cease within the next decade after which it will be subject to a site restoration program. It is proposed that as part of the site restoration plan consideration be given to establishing a permanent perched reservoir as the focus of wetland nature reserve and 'Geopark' of international significance. The reservoir would also be used to provide head water support to the River Ver to revitalise the river and sustain flow throughout the year. In addition the perched reservoir could be used to as a pumped hydro energy storage facility to support the growing network of solar energy plants in the farmlands west of the Chilterns ridge. Kensworth Quarry Chalk Pit Restoration kensworth quarry chalk pit restoration Yes Kensworth Quarry and upper Ver Valleys kensworth quarry and upper ver valleys River Ver, Chiltern Hills Environmental flows and water resources Habitat and biodiversity 2022-09-02T18:07:57Z 2459825.2555208 2022-10-04T11:29:59Z 2459856.9791551 Kensworth Quarry Chalk Pit Restoration 500 1 plainlist 5 [[Category:Case study]] [[Project title::!Kensworth Quarry Chalk Pit Restoration]] [[Subcatchment title::River Ver, Chiltern Hills]] Kensworth Quarry Chalk Pit Restoration# QUERY756e0ce81db786e6b2734c50f90b7a45 500 1 list 3 [[Category:Case study]] [[Parent project::Case study:Kensworth Quarry Chalk Pit Restoration]] Kensworth Quarry Chalk Pit Restoration# QUERY473869daaf76bf6f942c01c75a11d2c0 Case study:Kensworth Quarry Chalk Pit Site Restoration 500 en Kensworth Quarry Chalk Pit Site Restoration Parent project 102 en Parent project