About Us

How did NCST form?

Newmarket Chalk Stream Trust was formed by Kevin Hand and Louise Eatock in 2024. Newmarket’s lost rivers had been the subject of research by the Newmarket Historical Society and proved to be a fascinating subject. Louise is chair of Newmarket Community Arts and had taken a keen interest in social media posts that artist Penny Sobr had made about chalk streams in Cambridge. Armed with knowledge that Newmarket sits on chalk rock, Penny put Louise in touch with Kevin to investigate the possibility that the Newmarket Brook could be a chalk stream.

Many experts were consulted and the conclusion was that the two streams that run through Newmarket do indeed rise from chalk springs in the Dullingham and Cheveley area and are in fact two of the 250 chalk streams in the world! They are known as the Newmarket Brook and Cheveley Brook.

What is our goal?
At present the trust is choosing to focus its energy on the Newmarket Brook and hopes with time to be able to support the Cheveley Brook as well. The two main aims are to:
1. Unite the local community across Newmarket and the surrounding areas, encouraging everyone to appreciate the chalk streams on their door step.
2. Survey the water chemistry, flora and fauna of the streams. Collecting ample data will allow us to understand what condition our stream is in and therfore show us how we can improve it for wildlife, and for people.

Celebrating the stream
Newmarket Community Arts has organised the Rivers of Light lantern parade for the past three years. This coming February, 2026, the event is being co-organised with NCST. Over the coming years the trust aims to harness that enthusiasm from the event and turn it into measurable action to protect and improve Newmarket’s Chalk Streams.

The Rivers of Light parade became the subject of a film called “Rivers of Light” by James Murray-White. The filmed premiered in Newmarket in December 2024 and is set to be shown at future events.