Editing Kennet and Avon Canal (section)

===Newbury to Reading===
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[[File:Newbury Wharf.jpg|thumb|left|[[Newbury, Berkshire|Newbury]] Wharf]]
The River Kennet is navigable from [[Newbury, Berkshire|Newbury]] downstream to the confluence with the [[River Thames]] at Kennet Mouth, in [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Kennet & Avon Canal|url=https://www.waterways.org.uk/waterways/canals_rivers/kennet_avon_canal/kennet_avon_canal|publisher=Inland Waterways Association|access-date=21 October 2017}}</ref>

The stretch from Newbury to [[High Bridge, Reading|High Bridge]] in Reading is an improved river navigation known as the ''Kennet Navigation'', opened in 1723. Throughout this navigation stretches of natural riverbed alternate with {{convert|11|mi|km}} of artificial lock cuts and a series of locks that overcome a fall of {{convert|130|ft|m}}.<ref name=pearson42to52>{{harvnb |Pearson |2003 |pp=42–52}}</ref>

East of Newbury town centre the Kennet passes through the [[Thatcham Reed Beds]] a {{convert|169|acre|ha|adj=on}} [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]], nationally important for its extensive reedbed, and species-rich [[alder]] woodland and fen habitats. The latter supports [[Desmoulin's whorl snail]] (''Vertigo moulinsiana''), which is of national and European importance. A large assemblage of breeding birds such as [[Cetti's warbler]] make use of the reedbed, fen and open water habitats found at Thatcham Reed Beds.<ref name="thatcham"/> Thatcham's network of [[gravel pit]]s, [[reed bed]], woodland, hedges and [[grassland]] is rich in wildlife and has been made into [[The Nature Discovery Centre]] by the [[Royal Society for the Protection of Birds]].<ref name="x129">{{cite web | title=Thatcham Reedbeds and Greenham Common | publisher=Royal Society for the Protection of Birds | url=http://www.rspb.org.uk/england/central/school_visits/thatcham.asp | access-date=22 September 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060522202500/http://www.rspb.org.uk/england/central/school_visits/thatcham.asp <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 22 May 2006}}</ref>

[[File:The Kennet and Avon Canal, Midgham - geograph.org.uk - 2320046.jpg|thumb|left|The ''Kennet Navigation'' between [[Midgham Lock|Midgham]] and [[Colthrop Lock|Colthrop]] locks]]
[[Monkey Marsh Lock]] at [[Thatcham]] is one of only two remaining working examples of turf-sided locks on the canal today.<ref>{{cite web|title=Monkey Marsh Lock |url=http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=237124 |work=Pastscape National Monument Record |publisher=[[English Heritage]] |access-date=20 June 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007180553/http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=237124 |archive-date= 7 October 2012 }}</ref> It is listed as a [[scheduled monument]] by English Heritage.<ref name=colins94>{{harvnb |Nicholson |2006 |p=94}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Monkey Marsh Lock | publisher=Arts and Humanities Data Service | url=http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/search/fr.cfm?rcn=EHNMR-652342 | access-date=14 June 2009 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Below [[Colthrop Lock]] in [[Thatcham]] the river leaves behind the built-up area of Newbury and runs in generally rural surroundings. It passes through the [[Woolhampton Reed Bed]], another SSSI which consists of dense [[reed bed]] with smaller areas of tall [[fen]] vegetation and [[Carr (landform)|carr woodland]]. It is notable for the diversity of insects it supports and its nesting [[passerine]] bird populations, which include several uncommon species such as [[Eurasian reed warbler|reed warbler]], a species that in Britain nests almost exclusively in this habitat.<ref name="woolhampton"/>

[[Aldermaston Gravel Pits]] consist of mature flooded [[gravel]] workings surrounded by dense fringing vegetation, trees and scrub, affording a variety of habitats for breeding birds and a refuge for wildfowl. The irregular shoreline with islands, promontories, sheltered [[eutrophic lake|eutrophic]] pools and narrow lagoons, provides undisturbed habitat for many water birds, including surface-feeding ducks such as [[Eurasian teal|teal]] and [[northern shoveler|shoveler]]. The surrounding marsh and scrub are important for numerous birds including nine breeding species of [[Old World warbler|warbler]]s, [[water rail]]s, [[common kingfisher|kingfisher]]s and an important breeding colony of [[Common nightingale|nightingales]].<ref name="aldermasten"/> In 2002 [[English Nature]] bought Aldermaston Gravel Pits from the mineral extraction company [[Grundon]] and it is managed as a [[nature reserve]] by the [[Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.aldermaston.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=34&Itemid=53 | title=Aldermaston Gravel Pits | publisher=Aldermaston Parish Council | access-date=21 May 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903161645/http://www.aldermaston.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=34&Itemid=53 | archive-date=3 September 2011}}</ref> The [[River Kennet]] itself, from near its sources west of Marlborough down to Woolhampton, has been designated as a SSSI primarily because it has an extensive range of rare plants and animals that are unique to [[chalk]] watercourses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/2000164.pdf |title=SSSI citation sheet for River Kennet |publisher=[[English Nature]] |access-date=18 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926225439/http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/2000164.pdf |archive-date=26 September 2007 }}</ref>

[[File:The Oracle, Reading, riverside.jpg|alt=Stretch of canal with large modern buildings and concrete walkways on either side.|thumb|left|[[County Lock|Brewery Gut]] within [[The Oracle, Reading|The Oracle]]]]
The village of [[Woolhampton]] and the canal settlement of [[Aldermaston Wharf]] are the only significant settlements until the river enters the built-up area of Reading at [[Sheffield Lock]] in [[Theale, Berkshire|Theale]]. Even after this, the river is isolated from Reading's suburbs by a wide [[floodplain]] surrounding the river. In this stretch is [[Garston Lock]], the other turf-sided lock on the navigation.<ref>{{cite web|title=All change for the K&A |url=http://www.jim-shead.com/waterways/Articles.php?wpage=46 |publisher=Jim Shead |access-date=16 September 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213203127/http://www.jim-shead.com/waterways/Articles.php?wpage=46 |archive-date=13 December 2007 }}</ref>

Shortly after passing [[Fobney Lock]] and the associated [[water treatment]] works, the Kennet flood plain narrows and the river enters a narrow steep-sided gap in the hills forming the southern flank of the Thames flood plain.<ref name=pearson52>{{harvnb |Pearson |2003 |p=52}}</ref> At [[County Lock]] the river enters the centre of Reading, where it formerly flowed through the centre of a large brewery. This narrow and twisting stretch of the river became known as [[County Lock|Brewery Gut]]. Because of poor visibility and the difficulty of boats passing in this stretch, traffic has long been controlled by a set of maritime [[traffic light]]s.<ref name=pearson53>{{harvnb |Pearson |2003 |p=53}}</ref> Today the Brewery Gut is a major feature of Reading's [[The Oracle, Reading|The Oracle]] shopping centre.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Oracle|url=http://www.thamesvalleypark.com/about-reading|publisher=Thames Valley Park|access-date=21 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109194722/http://www.thamesvalleypark.com/about-reading|archive-date=9 November 2017|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

[[File:Kennet Mouth.JPG|thumb|left|Kennet Mouth with bridge of the [[Great Western Main Line]] where the River Kennet meets the [[River Thames]]]]
Immediately after The Oracle the river flows under the arched [[High Bridge, Reading|High Bridge]], which forms a historical and administrative divide on the river. The last {{convert|1|mi|spell=in}} of the River Kennet in Reading below the bridge has been navigable since at least the 13th century. Because there is no wide floodplain, wharves could be built during the [[Middle Ages]] that allowed Reading to establish itself as a river port.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Slade|first1=C.F.|title=Reading|url=http://www.historictownsatlas.org.uk/sites/historictownsatlas/files/atlas/town/reading_text.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006025827/http://www.historictownsatlas.org.uk/sites/historictownsatlas/files/atlas/town/reading_text.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 October 2015|publisher=Historic Town Atlas|access-date=21 October 2017}}</ref> Originally this short stretch of river, which includes [[Blake's Lock]], was under the control of [[Reading Abbey]], but today it is administered by the [[Environment Agency]] as if it were part of the River Thames.<ref>{{cite web |title=Blake's Lock |work=River Thames Guide |url=http://www.riverthames.co.uk/about_thames/3687.htm |publisher=The River Thames Guide |access-date=17 September 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060926180425/http://www.riverthames.co.uk/about_thames/3687.htm |archive-date=26 September 2006 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name=allsop49>{{harvnb |Allsop |1987 |p=49}}</ref> The Horseshoe Bridge at Kennet Mouth was built as a railway bridge in 1839, and the timber-clad iron-truss [[accommodation bridge]] was added in 1892.<ref>{{cite web|title=Monument No: 1537729 |url=http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=1537729 |work=Pastscape national Monument Record |publisher=[[English Heritage]] |access-date=21 July 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008071845/http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=1537729 |archive-date= 8 October 2012 }}</ref>

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