Limestone rivers and streams: River Wye
The River Wye, which flows through the steep-sided Wye Valley near Buxton, is a characteristic White Peak limestone river and contains exceptionally clean water.
These clean waters support many aquatic plants, including water-starworts and water-crowfoots, whilst the bank sides support plants such as butterbur and meadowsweet. Rivers such as the Wye are famous for trout, which
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feed on an abundant insect life, including a range of water beetles, caddis flies, craneflies and hoverflies. Such insects also provide a food source for birds such as the dipper and grey wagtail, which are common on fast-flowing sections of water, as well as many bat species, including natterers. moorhen and coot are also common sights along the river whilst kingfishers are less common. The Wye also houses a number of key biodiversity species, including the white clawed crayfish and water vole.
Many of the White Peak's rivers and streams flow when the water table is high in autumn and winter then gradually dry up through the summer as water percolates downwards through the underlying limestone. This process is exacerbated where ‘soughs' are present. These were dug to drain former lead mines and have lowered the water table in many areas. |
