The Anton River Conservation Association

The Anton River Conservation Association (TARCA) is a local voluntary group that carries out practical wildlife conservation work on and around Andover’s very special River Anton.

The River Anton is a tributary of the River Test. The river rises just to the north of Andover, passes through Anton Lakes Local Nature Reserve and flows on through the centre of the town. It then flows in a southerly direction through Rooksbury Mill Lakes LNR, and the villages of Upper Clatford, Goodworth Clatford and Cottonworth before joining the River Test just below Chilbolton.

To many the River Anton is thought of a one of the finest small chalk streams in Southern England, and TARCA members work hard to enhance the river and protect the associated wildlife.

TARCA was formed as a self-sufficient, voluntary conservation group in August 2009 and since then local interest and support has grown quickly.

TARCA volunteers complete very varied practical tasks including scrub clearance, tree planting, live hedge laying, riverbank maintenance, wildflower meadow maintenance, species surveys and several much-needed litter picks in and around the river. In the past TARCA has also been involved with dew pond creation and otter holt building.

TARCA is a partner of Test Valley Borough Council and provides children’s nature activities at Discovery Days, such as pond dipping, bird box making, and craft activities.