The weather tried to ruin it but the Biodiversity Group’s Nature Festival in The Byes on Saturday ended up as a resounding success thanks to all the volunteers coming together and overcoming the difficulties.
Months of planning went into putting together a day with many local groups hoping to stage a range of family centred activities in The Byes. There were to be art and craft activities, storytelling, dancing and singing, nature walks and a chance for children to see some of the tiny creatures that live in the river, even a chance to make and take away a bird box.
Then the weather forecast warned of storms on the day. The group made the difficult decision to cut their losses and move as much as possible into the Guide headquarters, and by lunchtime everyone was glad they had, the weather forecast came to pass and it poured down.
Inside the Guide building the word being used was ‘buzzing’. People of all ages were busy exploring, talking, making and learning. The bird boxes were being put together, willow wands were being woven into head wreaths decorated with natural materials. There were trays of pondlife with young children leaning over and peering in fascinated by what they could see.
There wasn’t floor space to put on the dancing, but there was plenty of singing and storytelling. People were challenged to match up the nuts and fruits to their parent trees, and there was a chance to win a beautiful ceramic birdbath.
The weekend of activities had started the night before when Kennaway House hosted a fascinating talk by keen snorkeller and photographer Carol Harper giving insights into local sea life and some of the challenges it faces. On the Sunday evening, more than a hundred people joined the Sidmouth Eco Hub for a showing of the film Wilding which told the story of the ecological work of the Knepp Estate in Sussex. The film was followed by a discussion of the issues raised with a panel of farmers and food producers answering questions from the audience.
The weekend saw the close of the group’s photographing nature competition which had been running for two weeks. The 16 and over winner was Karen Greenslade for her picture of a female Large Red Damselfly, the under 16 winner was Oliver Stevens with his action shot of a Buff-tailed Bumblebee. All the entries can be seen in a picture gallery on the group’s website.
The Biodiversity Group would like to say thank you to all the people who worked hard to make the weekend a success.
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