The rare chalk stream 4x4s can legally use for fun

"It's bizarre when you see it - it's so shocking most people just cannot believe what's going on," says Adam Faulkner.

He has filmed countless vehicles driving up and down a river that is one of the world's rarest habitats, but is legally classed as an unclassified road.

There are only about 260 chalk streams on the planet, but in one section of the River Meon in Hampshire you can expect to see motor vehicles driving along it.

Local residents and experts want the ancient byway closed, saying 4x4s are causing serious damage to the precious habitat.

But green lane enthusiasts say the right to drive along the 200m section of the river must remain and it is vital that access to the countryside is for everyone.

Local resident Faulkner says: "They think this person must be lost or they've taken a wrong turning.

"But no, people are doing it for fun. It's so out of kilter with the fact that it is a chalk stream river right here in the South Downs National Park."

Surveys have found above and below the 200m section, river weeds flourish with fine gravel on the bed.

Where the vehicles drive, the bed appears stripped of vegetation with only larger stones.

Campaigners want a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) put in place to stop the motor vehicles legally being allowed to drive along the river.

Local residents have joined the protest against the continued, albeit legal, use of the river and a recent demonstration saw more than a hundred people turn out with placards.

John Ridge travelled from Wickham: "It's not appropriate to do it anymore. There are lots of places to do fun driving but only a few chalk streams."

Leanne Nichols from Droxford adds: "It's absolutely heartbreaking to see.

"There are big 4x4 vehicles. There's scrambler bikes. You can just see them driving through tearing up the river bed."

Helen Child also joined the river side protest: "It's not good for all the wildlife and all the eco- system. You know this stretch is really damaged."

The River Meon rises at East Meon flowing for 21 miles (34 kms) to the Solent at Hill Head.

The 200m section used by 4x4 and bikes is in the South Downs National Park.

So how is driving along a chalk stream allowed?

"Some people access the countryside in different ways and they really want to hold onto the fact that they can do that too," says Vanessa Rowlands, who chairs the South Downs National Park Authority.

She adds: "We are governed by two purposes. Which is to conserve and enhance the wildlife, natural beauty and cultural heritage of the area. And also to promote access and enjoyment of these places.

"We are not the highways authority and we're not the traffic authority."

Responsibility for the highways is with Hampshire County Council (HCC).

It says: "While this area is deemed by law to be a 'publicly maintainable highway', meaning that vehicles are able to use it, it is very clearly not a 'normal road' – and we are aware of the sensitives surrounding access to it."

The council adds it is looking at whether any changes to access are "justified, or would be permitted under current legislation" and it does not have a timeframe for any review to be concluded.

In 2023, HCC commissioned an Aquatic Ecology Report. It concluded vehicles driving through the River Meon were having an impact on the biodiversity of the river and recommended closing the forded section of the Mill Lane byway.

Nearly two-and-a-half-years later, it is still open.

Zoe Wedderburn-Day is the head of policy and strategy at Fish Legal. It was set up to protect inland and coastal waters from pollution and environmental damage.

"It's frustrating that they're delaying this because they could have acted any time," she says.

"I understand why they're slightly fearful of doing it – that's not really good enough.

"If you look at the state of the river, this deserves to be protected. And as difficult as it might be to put in a traffic regulation order, they need to act now."

But any attempt to close the section of chalk stream with a TRO is likely to be contested.

A spokesperson for the Green Lane Association says it will work with authorities to "resolve any confusion about the legal status of the route" and it believes "it is important to maintain access for everyone to the countryside, particularly given that less than 4% of the rights of way network is legally open to motor vehicles".

It adds: "What is often overlooked is that for people who are elderly or disabled and unable to walk, cycle or ride a horse, a vehicle may be the only way to access the countryside and gain the physical and mental health benefits of being out in nature.

"The vast majority of motorised users access the countryside responsibly, driving at low speeds and taking care to avoid damage."