River Bourne, Dorset

River Bourne
The River Bourne as it flows through Bournemouth Gardens
Location
CountryUnited Kingdom
CountyDorset
Physical characteristics
Source 
  locationCanford Heath
  elevation60m Approx.
Length7 km
Basin size13.816 km²
Basin features
Tributaries 
  rightKinson Brook

The River Bourne is a 7-kilometre (4.3 mi) long river that flows through Poole and Bournemouth in Dorset. It originally reached the sea at Bournemouth, giving the town its name, but now, in normal circumstances, it flows directly into the combined sewer beneath the approach to Bournemouth Pier. Its name derives from the Middle English word bourne, meaning a small river. It also gives its name to the BCP Council ward of Alderney and Bourne Valley in Poole. Approximately 70% of the Bourne's drainage basin lies within the boundaries of the Borough of Poole.