Friends of the Dart are warmly inviting the whole community to We Are The Water
A three-day festival in celebration of the River Dart, running 20–22 March at Totnes Civic Hall.
This is a festival where music, dance, and performance art come together to raise both funds and awareness for the river we all love. There will be performances by the extraordinary Martha Tilston and Anna Ling, a chance to lose yourself in the magic of Honeyflower Soundsystem, as well as bubble and light shows. There is also an Atlantean Fancy Dress Ball for those who like their revelry with a mythic twist, and a vibrant kids’ zone full of storytelling, crafts and activities to spark young imaginations.
The festival is hosted by the brilliant The Blackbird Collective and Pollen Tribe – two creative forces whose work is a testament to what community can do when it gathers around something worth protecting.
On Saturday 21st, the celebration changes gear with a River Action and Information Day, bringing together the organisations and individuals on the frontline of river protection. That afternoon, a series of talks will open up the living world of the Dart – its wildlife, its ecology, and what each of us can actually do to help:
Eliza Boyacigiller, Biologist, River Ecologist and Water Quality Technician at Friends of the Dart, will speak to why river health matters and the real, practical actions any of us can take.
Jack Skuse, Director at Ambios, will explore the transformative impact of rewilding on river health and biodiversity, drawing on the inspiring work happening at the beautiful Sharpham Estate.
Sarah Greenslade, Founder of The Seal Project, will bring us closer to the Dart’s most charismatic residents, and share her remarkable identification work that feeds into the wider Seal Research Trust database.
Sam Manning, Forest Ecologist and Environmental Writer at The Woodland Trust, will reveal the hidden, scientific connections between our forests and our seas, and share with us why saving our oceans starts with planting more trees.
These talks are free and open to all. Come along, bring someone you love, celebrate this extraordinary river. And help us spread the word! The full timetable of events and tickets for the festival are available at the link below:
https://dandelion.events/e/wearethewater
Friends of the Dart is a community group dedicated to protecting and restoring the River Dart and its surrounding ecosystems. Through advocacy and local action, we monitor water quality, raise awareness about pollution, and support practical solutions to improve the river’s health.