The River Lisswater

The river Lisswater flows through the lands of the old West Leaf March. Its source lies in the Lissing Hills in the north from whence it runs down through fertile farmlands into the King's Vale. This section of the river is known as the Upper Lisswater. It meets with the river Bann at Bannington, and downstream of this confluence it is called the Lower Lisswater. Further south, at the limit of the West Leaf Woods, it joins the River Kleckith, coming from the east and together their mingled waters finally reach the sea at the coastal port of West Leaf, the old capital of the West Leaf March.

Ecosystem

Where the river flows down from the moors, it is fast and cold but it slows in the bottom of the King's Vale as it makes its way to Banningford and in this stretch there are many water meadows which by tradition are let for common access under the King's Rules. In these water meadows, you can find a rich variety of wild life including voles, otters and pietailed piper birds. Sweet Lissroot blossoms in profusion at high summer, the white belled flowers giving off a scent like honey and mint. The roots are valuable in cooking and for medicinal purposes but those who have the rights to harvest it are careful never to take too much in any one season.

Natural Resources

The Lisswater flows through some of the most fertile land in the West Leaf March and since it is navigable for much of its length, it is used to ship agricultural produce from the farms in the King's Vale down to the towns of Bannington and West Leaf. The first harvest of Lissroot from the Upper Lisswater is a special occasion and celebrated in local festivals at Lissford, Kingsbridge and Bannington. In the image below we see a barge leaving Kingsbridge with flowers and roots from one of this season's designated water meadows. The meadow will be carefully replanted with seedlings and cuttings and left to regrow for five more years before it is ready to harvest again.