New ‘Wild Waters’ festival for Bath/Bristol

south west | the environment | announcement Friday September 19, 2008 09:09 by Pam Beddard - Avon Biodiversity Partnership pam.beddard at btinternet dot com

A chance to celebrate local streams, rivers and the Severn Estuary

A new festival takes place in and around Bristol from 4 to 19 October to draw the public’s attention to the wildlife, historical and leisure interest offered by the area’s streams, rivers, coastal strips and the Severn Estuary.

From Saturday 4 – Sunday 19 October, Bath and Bristol's newest festival - Wild Waters – will provide local people of all ages with a range of ways to enjoy, celebrate and explore water – including water vole watches, canoe and ferry safaris, pond dipping, coastal rambles, and expert insight into the natural forces that create the world-famous Severn Bore.

Full details can be obtained from the website: www.wildwaters.org.uk but one of the highlights is a free Wild Waters Family Fun Day on Sunday 12 October, at Bristol City Council’s CREATE Centre, Smeaton Road, Bristol, BS1 6XN. There, visitors will be able to get face-to-face with the creatures that live in our rivers, watch new and favourite watery wildlife films, view a photo exhibition, learn how to become a rainwater harvester, join a guided riverside walk, interact with displays and more.

The festival is being run by the Avon Biodiversity Partnership, a coalition of 45+ local nature and environment groups, to raise awareness of the unique value - and needs - of the Avon, Frome, Severn, their streams and tributaries and the Severn Estuary.

Speaking for the partners, Matt Hamilton, said: “We are very lucky in this area to have a rich variety of beautiful waters – from streams, rivers and lakes to the unique Severn Estuary. Each plays a part in our everyday lives – by supporting local biodiversity, helping us to run our homes and businesses, giving us interesting leisure opportunities, and adding to our history. Yet it’s very easy to take water for granted. With WILD WATERS we’re hoping to encourage people to take a fresh look at the freshwaters around them, and find out more about the wildlife they support, their place in our culture and how we can continue to enjoy them. “

Most events are free or subsidised. Supporters include the Bristol Harbour Railway, which will be running a half-hourly steam service to CREATE on Sunday 12 October and the Bristol Ferry Boat Company, which will provide extra Family Fun Day services to and from CREATE, via Cascade Steps, Castle Green, the SS Great Britain, Temple Meads, and Welsh Back., and allow one child to travel free with a fare-paying adult if Wild Waters is mentioned on boarding.

Details of the full Wild Waters programme can be found at www.wildwaters.org.uk or contact Matt Hamilton on 0117 917 7270 or by emailing matt.hamilton@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk