Cultivated fields are usually the main source of sediment in UK rivers, but in the Nene basin, channel banks may be the biggest contributor. By using caesium-137, researchers found that 60 to 100% of sediment in the Nene comes from channel banks. This is because the river lacks sediment from agricultural fields, making it more likely to pick up material from the banks. Sediment yields in the Nene are lower than in other UK catchments, likely due to this unique source of sediment. The study shows that caesium-137 is a reliable way to trace sediment sources, but factors like sediment size and lake focusing should be considered.