River Lavant

The River Lavant is a winterbourne, ie a stream formed over chalk downland, which is dry in summer. It rises at East Dean and flows westward by a rather circuitous route until it enters Chichester Harbour. The Romans diverted it to flow round the southern walls of the city.

The porous chalk holds water in the aquifer, then releases it at a steady rate. During the dry season - usually summer! - the water table can fall below the level of the stream bed, causing it to dry out. Last winter when the Lavant should have been flowing, it was dry. In July when you can usually walk across the dry bed easily, it is in full flow. Here it is flowing through the wonderful parkland at West Dean on yet another wet and dreary day.