River Isbourne
{{Short description|River in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox river
| name = River Isbourne
| name_native =
| name_native_lang =
| name_other =
| name_etymology =
| image = File:River Isbourne at Hinton on the Green - geograph.org.uk - 1479922.jpg
| image_size =
| image_caption = River Isbourne near Hinton-on-the-Green
| map = {{Location map many|United Kingdom Gloucestershire
| float = center|width = 275|border=infobox
| relief = 1
| caption=
| label1 = source
| background1 = white
| mark1 = cyan pog.svg
| lat1 = 51.9346
| long1 = -2.0072
| label2 = mouth
| background2 = white
| mark2 = blue pog.svg
| lat2 = 52.0862
| long2 = -1.9564
}}
| map_size =
| map_caption = River Isbourne - showing source in Gloucestershire and mouth in Worcestershire
| pushpin_map =
| pushpin_map_size =
| pushpin_map_caption=
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = United Kingdom
| subdivision_type2 = Country within the UK
| subdivision_name2 = England
| subdivision_type3 = Counties
| subdivision_name3 = Gloucestershire, Worcestershire
| subdivision_type4 = Towns
| subdivision_name4 = Winchcombe, Evesham
| subdivision_type5 =
| subdivision_name5 =
| length = {{convert|22|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| width_min =
| width_avg =
| width_max =
| depth_min =
| depth_avg =
| depth_max =
| discharge1_location= Hinton-on-the-Green{{cite web|url=http://nrfa.ceh.ac.uk/data/station/meanflow/54036 |title=54036 - Isbourne at Hinton on the Green|work=The National River Flow Archive|publisher=Centre for Ecology & Hydrology|access-date= 14 October 2015}}
| discharge1_min =
| discharge1_avg = {{convert|0.66|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url=http://nrfa.ceh.ac.uk/data/station/meanflow/54036 |title=54036 - Isbourne at Hinton on the Green|work=The National River Flow Archive|publisher=Centre for Ecology & Hydrology|access-date= 14 October 2015}}
| discharge1_max = {{convert|86|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
| source1 = Cleeve Hill
| source1_location = Cotswolds, Gloucestershire
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|51.9346|-2.0072|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation =
| mouth = Confluence with the Avon
| mouth_location = Hampton, Worcestershire
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|52.0862|-1.9564|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation =
| progression =
| river_system =
| tributaries_left =
| tributaries_right = Laverton Brook
| custom_label =
| custom_data =
| extra =
}}
The River Isbourne is a 14 mile (22 km) long tributary of the River Avon which flows through Gloucestershire and Worcestershire in the Midlands of England.
Course
The source of the river is a series of springs that occur on the northern flank of Cleeve Hill, on the edge of the Cotswold Hills. These springs occur where the permeable Jurassic limestone, meets the impermeable Upper Lias mudstone and clays that underlie most of the Isbourne catchment.
The river flows from Cleeve Hill in a steep valley in a northerly direction through the hamlet of Postlip, before reaching the town of Winchcombe which it passes along its eastern side. Beyond the town, it continues northwards to Toddington, through the grounds of Toddington Manor, and then past the village of Wormington. The river then crosses into Worcestershire and is joined by the Laverton brook, before it reaches the village of Sedgeberrow. Flowing directly north the Isbourne passes through the village of Hinton on the Green, it then continues through an area of market gardens on the outskirts of Evesham, and passes under the Pershore road, before joining the River Avon near Hampton.{{cite web
|url=http://maps.environment-agency.gov.uk/wiyby/wiybyController?topic=wfd_rivers&layerGroups=default&lang=_e&ep=map&scale=6&x=406653.95833333354&y=233983.48958333326|title=Environment Agency What's in your Backyard |publisher=Environment Agency |access-date=29 June 2013}}
Catchment
The Isbourne catchment covers an area of {{convert|95|km2|sqmi}} and lies between the Badsey Brook to the east, the Merry Brook and Carrant Brook to the west with the Cotswolds to the south. It has an average annual rainfall of {{convert|704|mm|in}}, which is somewhat drier than the average for England at {{convert|828|mm|in}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/nottingham#?tab=climateTables |title=Climate tables Climate region:England 1961-90| publisher= Met Office | access-date=10 May 2013}}
Land use in the catchment is predominantly rural, with 80 per cent made up from a mixture of arable, horticulture and pasture; the remainder being woodland, with a minor fraction of urbanised area of less than 2 per cent.{{cite web|url=http://nrfa.ceh.ac.uk/data/station/spatial/54036 |title=54036 - Isbourne at Hinton on the Green: Spatial Data|work=The National River Flow Archive|publisher=Centre for Ecology & Hydrology|access-date= 16 November 2015}}
In terms of geology, apart from the headwaters which are underlain by the Cotswold limestone, the majority of catchment is Lias clay. This impermeable clay means that Isbourne can become responsive in terms of runoff to heavy rainfall events.{{cite web|url=http://nrfa.ceh.ac.uk/data/station/info/54036 |title=54036 - Isbourne at Hinton on the Green: Station Information|work=The National River Flow Archive|publisher=Centre for Ecology & Hydrology|access-date=16 November 2015}}
Flooding
{{stack|File:The downstream side of the bridge - geograph.org.uk - 506650.jpg after 2007 floods]]}}
The Isbourne has a history of flooding along its course, especially in Sedgeberrow, the most recent occasion being in summer 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/library/publications/40549.aspx |title=Environment Agency - Sedgeberrow |publisher=Environment Agency |access-date=25 May 2013}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Transport in Gloucestershire}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Isbourne}}
Category:Rivers of Gloucestershire