Confluence - the River Sid and Its Tributaries

Engaging and Inspiring 

Through a flow of information, art and nature workshops, we are raising awareness about the biodiversity of the river and what threats it faces.  We are exploring the cultural heritage of the river Sid and it’s five tributaries Lincombe Stream, Shodbrook, Woolbrook, Roncombe Stream and Burscombe Brook.

Creatively mapping stories, memories and awareness of the heritage, biodiversity and special place the river occupies in our community as part of the ecology of Sidmouth, we will create a public art exhibition to host this content.

This new project designed to promote and encourage the whole community and visitors to our coastal community, to conserve and preserve the natural and cultural heritage of the River Sid and its tributaries. – the life blood of the Sid Valley.

Creative Community Co-Creation

Engaging through a series of educational art workshops, talks, walks, expressing knowledge and understanding what is valued to document the story of what is thought to be the UK’s shortest river.

Sidmouth School of Art in collaboration with The River Sid Catchment Group Group have delivered a series of discovery workshops with Sidmouth and Sidbury Primary Schools, the Sid Valley Memory Cafe and the public. 

Together have explored the challenges and threats to the river, documenting its' biodiversity and the shared memories we have as a community of all ages of messing about on the river and inspiring actions to take care of this vital source of life.

A range of community organisations are contributing to the project from funding to volunteer time and specialist knowledge.  We are grateful for the collaboration to collectively make this important community project happen.

Nature Art at the Sid Valley Memory Cafe

Confluence kicked off on the 10th September with a wonderful workshop full of memories, creativity and care.  

Artists Steve, Chloe and Coco worked with 23 participants, using paints and and pastels and flora and fauna from the riverside to create nature inspired art for the project.

Learning in nature about nature

A key feature of our project is to create and share positive experiences of the River Sid.  Outdoor learning, connecting with nature is a precious and vital part of appreciating and understanding the life blood of the Sid Valley.

Working with over 90 Year 5s (children who are 8 and 9 years old) has not only been a lot of fun but also important to instill both responsibility and a love of the nature that surrounds us.

The children took part in a river walk where they identified the insects and invertebrates in our river led by Charles Sinclair of the River Sid Catchment Group, learnt about the challenges to some of the species that need to be protected and discovered their own creativity through a series of art activities both by the river and in class back at school.

Exploring the river bank together we found fungi and fish, sticks and stones, colour, pattern and textures.  Everyone had a go at developing new skills: making crayon rubbings with bark and leaves, charcoal and pencil drawing through a view finder to focus into detail.

Inspiring curiosity, storytelling, imagination and critical thinking

Developing understanding about how and why we can work to protect and enhance our rivers and why this is so important to biodiversity is what Confluence is all about.

Our enjoyment of the river from taking a calming walk, to picnicking, paddling and generally messing about by the river for fun, fresh air and peace of mind was clear during our workshops.

We saw many species from Cadis, May and Stone Fly, to Bullheads and Butterflies, Dragon Flies and Pond Skaters.

We learnt that the very endangered European Eel and Salmon are still to be found in the Sid.

We learnt that though an olympic Salmon may leap as high as 3 metres - most are not at this level! This is why overcoming the challenge of the 3m high School Weir in the Byes is an important focus of the River Sid Catchment Group.

We are grateful for the support and participation of Sidmouth Primary School and Sidbury Primary School, the children, teachers, parents and support staff for helping to make this happen.

Creating the art work in the community

Confluence was a top activity with 86+ taking part at Sidmouth Science Festival as part of Super Science Saturday.

We experimented with “crayon resist art” and “oil pastel” techniques. Young Science festival goers made a collection of “petri dish art” samples - taking a closer look at the invertebrates that are plentiful in our river - a good sign for the Sid.

Plus we asked Why are hedges important to rivers? and created beautiful textured leaf paintings at Sid Valley Biodiversity Groups’ “Life on the Hedge” event.

Some Answers...

1. to act as a flood risk barrier - holding water back
2. to stop pollution and rubbish from entering the river
3. to feed the birds and mammals that use the river as their habitat too
4. to protect the soil and reduce erosion
5. to act as a carbon store

River Resilience, Supporting Biodiversity, Empowering Local Action

The project supports the aim of the River Sid Catchment Group to improve the health, diversity and resilience of the River Sid. Our continued nature and art partnership builds on our previous collaboration the River Sid Outreach Project through which young people in Sidmouth demonstrated their care for the river.

Their young voices were loud and clear through a collaborative artwork River for Sidmouth Wallspace - a powerful call to action to safeguard the future of its resident species. Confluence aims to amplify this voice through understanding what the river means to us all, what challenges it faces and how we can take steps individually and collectively to look after it.

To find out more about the river and the ongoing work of the River Sid Catchment Group you can read the River Sid Catchment Plan which works across Water, Land and People and aims to

Improve the ecological health, diversity and resilience within the catchment;

Restore access for sea trout, salmon and eels to live and breed in the Sid;

Mitigate the impact of climate change on flooding, peak flow and biodiversity loss;

Foster in the community an appreciation and respect of our river system.

Artists Collaboration

A trio of local artists whose community practice brings together a brilliant mix of skills from street art, to collage to murals and a depth of experience of working with children and older adults are working closely with river specialists from the River Sid Catchment Group. Their collective knowledge, creativity and care for the environment will fuse to ensure a positive learning experience and unite the artistic contributions of all the participants.