Bourne Rivulet

The Bourne Rivulet is a river in the English county of Hampshire. It is a tributary of the River Test.

The Bourne Rivulet (known simply as 'The Bourne' locally) is a seasonal chalk stream that rises and falls with the natural water table in the area. It usually rises in January and flows until around August each year. It normally runs from the village of Upton and flows through the villages of Hurstbourne Tarrant, St Mary Bourne and Hurstbourne Priors before joining with the River Test near Tufton.

Due to public water extraction above the headwater, the river flows increasingly intermittently above it. However Vitacress Salads Ltd.'s watercress plant, which is situated at the perennial headwaters, augments the flow and allows the Bourne to remain perennial downstream, the flow being maintained by its pumping of water back into the stream.