A stretch of the Loddon near Stanfordend Mill, together with the adjacent hay meadows, which are periodically waterlogged, is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The river first becomes a full scale river in the village of Old Basing, it is free to fish here as long as you don't fish on private land, this includes, the part of the river near the overhead railway bridge and onward to the road bridge into the woods.