The River Babingley is a chalk stream in northwest Norfolk. It rises east of the village of Flitcham and flows for approximately 22 km, eventually reaching the River Great Ouse at Wootton Marsh.
The Babingley is fed by a series of springs in its upper reaches, providing chalk-rich water that characterises the river and its distinctive biodiversity, including water crowfoot, fool’s watercress, water vole, bullhead, dace and stone loach. The upper reaches, or headwaters, are well protected by woodland, marshland and fen along the riverbanks. Consequently, it is home to large numbers of trout and is a haven for water voles.
In its lower reaches, the Babingley has steep embankments, limiting its ability to spill onto its floodplain. This affects plant and invertebrate species that rely on wet river margins. These reaches are also subjected to sediment loading from roads and adjacent farmland. Historically, it was modified to power mills, leading to straightened sections and weirs that have impacted fish migration. There are several surviving mills including Flitcham, Congham and Castle Rising.
Despite these modifications, the Babingley remains one of Norfolk’s finest examples of a chalk river, particularly in its upper reaches, where the water is exceptionally clear.
