Exmoor Rivers Day

Saturday 24th August,11am – 4pm

White Rocks, Simonsbath

What3words – Having.continued.skillet

Join us to celebrate the extraordinary beauty and rich diversity of Exmoor’s rivers. There will be talks, information and hands on river investigation.

Ben Eardley – 11:00am 

‘It is not about the beaver’

Ben will cover some of the evolution of the river catchments at Holnicote, how they are approaching management of the wider estate and how they are developing innovative and bespoke approaches to land management with their tenant farmers and local land managers.

Toby Diggens – 12:30pm

‘The marvels of the River Exe and its source on Exmoor.’

Toby will talk through the marvels of the River Exe and its source on Exmoor. From the wonderful riverside wildlife to the salmon which swim all the way from Greenland to spawn in its clear waters, this presentation will navigate the Exe and its habitats and showcase how everyone can have a positive impact in helping the river. Toby is a member of the River Exe and Tributaries Association, a body dedicated to the restoration and biodiversity of the Exe river system.

Nigel Hester – 13:30pm – Guided Walk along the Barle

Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the valley beside the River Barle, looking for riverside wildlife including plants, insects and birds.

Ueli Zellweger – 14:30pm

Protecting our Rivers, from insects up – with short film screening showing the danger from dogs!

Ticks are everywhere and numbers are growing every year. They are vectors for serious diseases like Borreliosis (Lyme disease), viral meningitis and anaplasmosis. There is a plethora of treatments for dogs on the market with ‘spot-ons’ like Frontline and Advantix which are very popular and easy to use. But these chemicals can cause havoc even in minimal doses and are contaminating our waterways.

There will also be screenings of the film The Atlantic Salmon that tells the story of this remarkable and highly endangered animal.

On the Water Meadows

12:00pm till 15:00

Fred Leach at the river with support from adventurer and Trustee Darren Sherwood

Join Fred and Darren for some kick sampling to discover what lives in the river and feeds the fish and many other animals.

You might be able to have a go yourself – bring wellies if you would like to get involved!

Everyone is welcome!

The event is free, but donations are welcome.