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Not Bourne Yesterday

@notbourneyesterday.bsky.social
99 followers 235 following 78 posts

Community-powered programme, telling the story of the Chilterns chalk streams. Made possible by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Chilterns National Landscape.

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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Join us on Saturday 27th September to celebrate our globally rare chalk stream, the River Wye, at Desborough Recreation Grounds, High Wycombe! All equipment provided, just wear your wellies! See you there! @chilternsnl.bsky.social  @chilternstreams.bsky.social  @heritagefunduk.bsky.social
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
“When it hurts, we return to the banks of certain rivers." (Poet Czeslaw Miłosz) From the fruitful Euphrates, and the Tigris, to Ancient Egypt and the Nile, to the Indus Valley, 'rivers run through our civilisations like strings through beads.' Our chalk streams link us to our ancient heritage.
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
NBY's stream-dipping session at the Hughenden Stream was a hoot - thirty people, across a range of ages, discovered the river's life, and discussed the ambitious restoration work ahead, which will seek to restore flow and fish passage across the stream - Because hope is the thing that flows! 🌱🐟
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Eid Mubarak to those who celebrate it!🌙Wherever you are celebrating, we hope you have the most wonderful time!  . @chilternsnl.bsky.social  @heritagefunduk.bsky.social  . Photo: Martha Glennon . #chalkstreams
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Join NBY for the Hughenden Summer of Play stream-dipping, in our beautiful Hughenden chalk stream. Saturday June 20th, from 10am - 12pm - Free tickets available through the link in bio, all equipment provided, bring your wellies 👢👢! . @heritagefunduk.bsky.social
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
Did you catch NBY's Martha on Countryfile last Sunday? Vick Hope joined us on the sparkling Hamble Brook with CCSP to do a RiverFly kick sample, and discuss the transformative restoration work that has given the river its voice back.  . @chapcic.bsky.social  @heritagefunduk.bsky.social
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Dr Wendy Morrison @hillfortian.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Well today had been just brilliant! First, a morning with @bucksarchives.bsky.social and @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social Callum showed us around the archives, informing and entertaining like a mastercraftsman of the Buckinghamshire past. Then, I return home to find my carnyx arrived!!! What a day!
Archmage of the Archives, Lord of the Lore, it's Callum, in his element!

A man looks happy in a confined space filled with documents A 12-13th century bit of sheet music used in the 16th century as a book over. 12th century bill of sale. Oldest document in the Archive!My newly arrived brass carnyx lies in wait alongside my more usual instrument of torture.
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
NBY's Martha at the recent Friends of the Ewelme, premiering our new film, exploring the deep history of our chalkstreams, to their more recent genesis, inviting communities to share the meanings chalk streams have for them. It was a joy to make - if you have 12 mins to spare, you know what to do! 🐚
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
Wishing all those who celebrate a very Happy Easter! 🌿🐣 As spring brings new life to our streams, we hope you’re able to enjoy the beauty of these ancient landscapes and the stories they have to tell. Thank you for being part of our programme seeking to connect people to them!💧🌼
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
Have you seen the wonderful Dr Wendy Morrison - @hillfortian.bsky.social in our NBY film on YouTube? If not, I can think of no better activity for your long weekend - I will link our film below...👣🌿 @heritagefunduk.bsky.social  @chilternsnl.bsky.social
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Wishing all our followers celebrating Passover a joyful and meaningful festival. 🌿✨ May this special time be filled with reflection and connection.  . @chilternsnl.bsky.social  @heritagefunduk.bsky.social
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
We recently held an event with Mind Wycombe, Chiltern Rangers and our wonderful advisory artist James Aldridge along the River wye in High Wycombe 🐟🦆 We stream-dipped for creatures, alongside a group drawing and river clean-up. Thank you all for a wonderful morning!  @heritagefunduk.bsky.social
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
In this clip, NBY's Martha talks about the importance of chalk stream to local communities through the years - follow the link in our bio to watch our full film discussing the historical status and importance of chalk streams in the Chilterns 📽️👣 @chilternsnl.bsky.social  @heritagefunduk.bsky.social
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
Have you watched our beautiful new film, Stories of Chalk Streams? And if so, would you like an autograph? 😉 Follow the link in our bio to watch our film, and let us know what you think! . @chilternsnl.bsky.social  @heritagefunduk.bsky.social  @hillfortian.bsky.social
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
On the 21 March, thirty brown trout were released into the River Wye by the NBY team, alongside Dadima’s CIC, an intergenerational community walking group 🐟👣 Each child released their own trout into the gravel base, discussing the chalk stream ecosystem, and wishing the trout luck on their journeys!
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
Today we’re celebrating the lifeblood of our landscapes — water. This World Water Day, we are looking to our precious chalk streams, from which so much water is drawn to feed our homes and businesses. These rare habitats, flowing through our communities, support life itself across the Chilterns.
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Eid Mubarak to our wonderful followers who celebrate🌙 In this clip from our new film, Raheed reflects on the Islamic tradition, and its teachings about water and nature conservation. Wishing you a joyful and peaceful Eid, filled with reflection and celebration! @heritagefunduk.bsky.social
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
Have you watched NBY's new film yet? And if not, Wye not? 🌷 In this clip, our Development Manager, Fran, discusses the global rarity of chalk streams.  Follow the link in our bio to watch the full film - we promise, it is worth it! @nicolaschaferfilm.bsky.social  @hillfortian.bsky.social
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
Current-ly giddy about our new film 'Not Bourne Yesterday: Stories of Chalk Streams' with the wonderful Nicola Schafer📽️ and @hillfortian.bsky.social  - join NBY to make the unheard voices heard. Full film on our YouTube - linked in bio. @nationallottery.bsky.social
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Dr Wendy Morrison @hillfortian.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
I came up with an idea a few months ago, and subsequent collaborative development with @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social and @nicolaschaferfilm.bsky.social resulted in this, which has grown into so much more than my original concept. Well done to all involved. youtu.be/NM1e4N9JYZk?... #chalkstreams
youtu.be
Not Bourne Yesterday: Stories of Chalk Streams
YouTube video by Chilterns National Landscape
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Wishing everyone in the NBY community a joyful Festival of Colours — a time for renewal, connection, and celebrating the vibrant rivers and communities in the Chilterns. . @chilternsnl.bsky.social @heritagefunduk.bsky.social
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
Nine of the three hundred chalk streams in the world are here in the Chilterns. Do you have a chalk stream local to you? . @chilternsnl.bsky.social @heritagefunduk.bsky.social . #chalkstreams #engagement
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
Attention! Our community survey closes in just over one week! 📢📢 Thank you to those who have already helped shape our chalk stream programme. Add your voice to the story by following the link in our bio, and be in with a chance of winning a One4All voucher ✨️🪿
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
Ramadan Mubarak to all our Chilterns community who are observing this holy month. Wishing you a peaceful Ramadan filled with reflection, generosity and hope ✨️ 🏞 @heritagefunduk.bsky.social @chilternsnl.bsky.social
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
👀 something ex-stream-ly hot this way comes 🐟🌊 Keep your eyes peeled on NBY for a big announcement... . @heritagefunduk.bsky.social @chilternsnl.bsky.social #chalkstreams #engagement
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
Have you ever wondered where chalk streams really come from? 💧 Beneath our feet sits a chalk aquifer - a huge natural sponge made of porous chalk rock. Rain slowly soaks into it, gets filtered and stored, and seeps back out through springs to feed our chalk streams 🏞🐟
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
Rivers slowly, surely, shape our landscape. Spring-fed rivers have an ethereal nature. “There is a mystery about rivers that draws us to them”, writes Olivia Laing, 2023, “for they rise from hidden places, and travel by routes that are not always tomorrow, where they might be today.”
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
What's the most boring event you ever attended? Last Saturday, @hillfortian.bsky.social led a brilliant ✨️soil boring✨️ session alongside @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social Youth Rangers at @naturalengland.bsky.social Hexton. We await the lab results! Thank you for joining our thoroughly boring day! 🤨😊
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Dr Wendy Morrison @hillfortian.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
Exciting day working with the @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social team and @naturalengland.bsky.social at Hexton Estate. The @wildlifebcn.org Youth Rangers came out to help take samples to see if we can get some ancient pollen. Yes, I told them today would be a truly boring exercise 😜
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
What stories life beneath our feet? 🤔 NBY will be soil coring at chalk springs, taking slender samples to read the earth's hidden history. By analysing layers of soil and tiny traces of life, we can illustrate deep time. Without a time machine, we must look to the earth, and core! 🌱
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
Hope springs eternal for NBY if you fill out our survey, linked in bio 🤭🌱 . @heritagefunduk.bsky.social @chilternsnl.bsky.social
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
We are shaped by water. Our minds and hearts are made mostly of it. By weight, the human body is about 60% water. Our bones hold water within them, our skin is formed by it. Rivers move through us as surely as they move through the land. @chilternsnl.bsky.social @heritagefunduk.bsky.social
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
Our series of NBY interviews continues... this time with none other than our very own Fran! 👋🙋‍♀️ . Have five minutes to help us fill out our Development survey? We would be most grateful - linked in our bio. . @chilternsnl.bsky.social @heritagefunduk.bsky.social
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
Could you help NBY? We are seeking an experienced Proofreader and Editor to review, edit and refine our Development bid 🐟✍️ ❗️Closing date: Monday 26 January 2026. ❗️ Send a proposal to fcrowther@chilterns.org.uk by 26 January 2026. Full application pack on our website, linked on bio. Thank you!
Group of young people walking along a grass pathway with a river flowing to one side, and shrubbery and wildflowers on the other, under blue skies.
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
What do chalk streams mean to you? What do you love, care or worry about - and how would you like to get involved? Take our short survey - link in bio - and help us shape the future of these rare rivers. Thank you for your help! @chilternsnl.bsky.social @heritagefunduk.bsky.social
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
As snow falls across the chilterns, and melts away, it seeps slowly through the chalk, filling the aquifer, eventually feeding our chalk streams. A hidden journey beneath our feet, replenishing our rivers 🌨❄️ @chilternsnl.bsky.social @heritagefunduk.bsky.social
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
A new year begins, and beneath our feet, the chalk is already at work, preparing the return of the winterbournes. As the year turns, we're drawn once more into the rhythm of the seasons - at Not Bourne Yesterday, we're looking ahead to another year of reconnecting with these precious rivers.
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 02/01/2026
Species like trout and bullhead follow seasonal rhythms shaping rivers and nearby communities. These journeys have been modified and blocked over time. NBY seeks to remove these barriers, reconnecting landscapes that have been divided for generations. Chalk streams remind us of life's constant flow.
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 30/12/2025
Why do you think chalk streams are important? Well, here is NBY volunteer, Tim, to tell us what he thinks. This is our second volunteer interview - what stories do you have to tell about chalk streams? Reach out to NBY to add your voice to the story! Thank you to Tim for his time and words! 🐛🐞🐟
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 26/12/2025
Chalk streams are a sacred and social force, spanning millennia. From prehistoric Bronze Age artefacts placed in their waters, to the construction of Roman temples at springs, to modern ritual depositions of figures of religious significance in chalk streams - these waters contain so many stories.
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
We're live streaming!! 🏞 🐟Our wonderful volunteer, Pablo joined us at the Ewelme Brooke, one of the nine Chilterns chalk streams. Why do you think chalk streams are important? Thank you to Pablo for his time, and stay tuned for more volunteer interviews! 🐞🦟🕷🐜🐛
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
Rivers remind us that all life depends on shared resources, and how small acts of care ripple outwards. Standing together at the banks, we join a lineage of communities who have found meaning in these waters. In caring for our streams, we are honouring both the past, and what flows ahead.
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
For thousands of years, people journeyed to the Chilterns chalk streams, seeking refreshment and refuge. Chalk springs are holy places - and the rivers they feed were once worshipped as Gods. Today, when we gather at rivers, we converge with a truly ancient history.
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
Over centuries, rivers have carved valleys and quietly redrawn the land beneath us. Their currents fed mills and factories, helping to spark industries that transformed the UK. And alongside their banks, people have traded, gathered, worshipped, and told stories; NBY seeks to spotlight some of these
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
Rivers have been written into stories since the earliest records. It is Mole's constant companion in Grahame's Wind in the Willows. Tarka the Otter meets the River as a wilder force, sculpting the landscape. Folklore is filled with tales of rivers, and river folk - we are part of a deep history!
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
We were delighted to host @jamesaldridgeart.bsky.social on the River Wye and Ewelme Brooke! We discussed the importance of art in nature connection. At the Ewelme watercress beds, we explored the historic role of chalk streams in local industries. Watch this space... 🏞 @heritagefunduk.bsky.social
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
In ‘Is a River Alive’ Robert MacFarlane invites us to consider rivers as living beings with agency - not inate geographic features. Not Bourne Yesterday celebrated the River Wye for World Rivers Day, as more than a waterway, but as a site of stories and culture.
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Dr Wendy Morrison @hillfortian.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
This morning's office...doing a bit on a new short film with award winning filmmaker Nicola Schafer for @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social Talking about archaeology in a chalk stream - nothing better on a crisp sunny November morning! Watch this space for early 2026 reveal!
River with a video camera and tripod
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
Haven't filled out Not Bourne Yesterday's survey yet? Don't worry! We are extending the closing date to Feb 28th, 2026. Add your voice to the Chilterns chalk streams story, and help us develop our community engagement programme. We are grateful for every entry!
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Not Bourne Yesterday @notbourneyesterday.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
Rivers epitomise our memories, culture, habits and ways of being. They connect us to our landscape. We celebrated our extraordinary chalk stream, the Wye, in urban High Wycombe this World Rivers Day - a river that means so much, to so many, for thousands of years. @heritagefunduk.bsky.social
A child and an adult walk through a shallow chalk stream holding a net, surrounded by lush greenery and overhanging branches.
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