The River Leadon, pronounced "Ledd'n", rises roughly seven miles north west of Great Malvern and flows mainly southwards until it reaches Dymock and then swings south eastto join the River Severn on the outskirts of Gloucester. The river runs approximately one third of its length in Herefordshire and two thirds in Gloucestershire.
The earliest written mention found to date appears in 972AD when King Edgar confirmed the possessions of the great abbey at Pershore.
The Leadon drains an area of 120 square miles and causes flash flooding most years at one point or another along its length.
Over recent years several flood prevention schemes have been undertaken to reduce this problem mainly by removing mill weirs, bank raising and cutting down overhanging trees.
There are many footpaths crossing the river even though it flows mainly through rural countryside away from roads.
At present the river has been canoed from Newtown, near Ledbury, to Gloucester.
The present position is that there are no official agreements for access to or use of the river. Several landowners have verbally agreed to your L.A.O. using their part of the river at present and voluntary agreements are being sought.
Due to the responsible use made by the few canoeists who have paddled, confidence has been built with landowners and their seems to be a high tolerance to people using the river with no reports of problems.
We wish to keep this goodwill on the landowners part and obtain official agreement from these and neighbouring landowners.
Please will anyone wishing to paddle the river please bear this in mind and behave in such a manner as not to jeopardise negotiations
By following the country code of practice, not leaving litter, closing gates, parking courteously, etc., we shall keep the goodwill of the landowners and safeguard our use for the future.
Due to the nature of the river, which is very narrow and shallow in places, it is necessary to contact the L.A.O. for conditions and access/egress points before paddling.
B.C.U. Local Access Officer
Steve Phillips
1 Knights Way
Newent
Glos
Tel: 01531 822614