The River Sid Discovery Trail

Bringing the Landscape to Life

Led by Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub in close collaboration with the scientific expertise of the River Sid Catchment Group and the creative vision of the Sidmouth School of Art, we are creating a guided trail that moves far beyond traditional, dry signage. Through a beautiful blend of physical art, interactive storytelling, and digital audio, this project will inspire thousands of residents and visitors to connect deeply with nature, adopt positive behaviours to improve water quality, and practice long-term environmental stewardship.

Artist led discovery workshops with Sidmouth Primary School and the Sidvalley Memory Cafe are underway.  Children and older people in our community are learning about the incredible biodiversity to be found in the river Sid and the challenges it faces with harm to healthy habitats and human made barriers that impede the migration of fish and eels in our river - which are being tackled by the River Sid Catchment Group and its Opening The Sid project.  

Discovery and Learning

Workshops participants learn about the fish, mammals, invertebrates and birds that are part of the river ecosystem as well as the cultural ecology - how we use and value the river, the bridges and weirs and re- routing of the river that are part of the heritage of the river from the rivermouth, through the Byes and to the first confluence of the river where the Woolbrook joins the main river.

With the help of the Friends of the Byes, EDDC, Sidmouth Town Council and Sidmouth's green groups - this project will be available in the coming months for all to enjoy.

Funding support has been provided by a variety of partners including East Devon National Landscapes - the project helps them to achieve their aims to protect and conserve and create good quality habitat for biodiversity and helps the River Sid Catchment Group to reinvigorate nature within the catchment, with an emphasis on the ecosystems that depend on clean, healthy water.

The Trail Experience: From Sea to Meadow

The journey physically begins where the river meets the sea at Alma Bridge, highlighted as the gateway to the South West Coast Path. From this vital ecological pulse, the trail winds inland through The Byes and ends below Margaret’s Meadow.

• Art in the Landscape: Walkers will experience the Riverside Artspace within the Sensory Garden, utilizing creative expression to build genuine empathy for our local environment.

• Tactile & Living History: An interactive brass-rubbing trail along the Riverside Walkway provides hands-on discovery, while the narrative traces the "ghosts" of our landscape—sharing the history of old mills, weirs, and historic bridges.
• Natural Meanders: By guiding walkers along the gentle curves of the river, the trail intentionally slows down the pace of modern life to match the natural rhythm of the water, promoting physical activity, fresh air, and deep mental wellbeing.

1. Nature Connection & Bio-Acoustics

We are turning every walker into an active nature observer. The trail will guide people to spot the valley's diverse flora—from towering Monterey Pines to the scent of wild garlic—and track the footprints of the badgers and wildlife that utilise the river corridor. Crucially, the trail will feature a rich audio experience via QR codes, combining the shifting soundscapes of the river with local birdsong to help walkers identify avian species by ear.

2. Climate Awareness through Observation

By connecting the river’s historical flow to its present state, we give the global climate crisis a tangible, local context. Understanding the vulnerability of the Sid's unique plant and invertebrate species empowers our community to visualize the river's future and take direct, responsible action to protect it.

3. Intergenerational Co-Creation

True community pride is built through participation. This autumn we are hosting six dedicated Discovery Workshops bringing together 90 primary school children from Sidmouth and Sidbury with 23–30 older residents from the Sid Valley Memory Café. This beautiful, collaborative process allows local people to get creative together, to make marks, to paint species and print textures and weave their own memories and storytelling into the fabric of the trail, establishing deep community ownership across generations.

4. High-Visibility Public Art

To celebrate the launch of the trail, the artwork and stories co-created during our intergenerational workshops will be transformed into a striking 6m x 3m public billboard at Sidmouth Wallspace and a new River Sid Discovery Trail Exhibition at Riverside Artspace. Overlooking the high-footfall Ham Car Park, this vibrant, free public art exhibition will act as a major community "call to action," capturing the imagination of eco-conscious visitors and locals alike for eight weeks.  The Riverside Artspace in the Sensory Garden will host a free public art exhibition featuring the work of the children and older people who took part - this collaborative work will help to foster awareness and connection with the river and the habitats in and around it.