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A Three Day Celebration of Our Local Environment

Thursday 20th to Saturday 22nd June

Various indoor and outdoor venues across Kingsbridge

Kingsbridge Nature Festival is returning for 2024! We are so excited to bring back this celebration of our local environment over the summer solstice weekend in June.

Together with a range of creatives, projects and organisations in the town and surrounding area, we are busy co-creating a programme of events and workshops starting in April that culminate in a three-day festival (June 20th - 22nd) to celebrate the natural world and our place within it.

Building on all the good things we ignited last year - we are planning even more creative, fun and inspiring opportunities to participate and take action for nature in our town. Expect guided nature walks and boat tours, great talks and film screenings, outdoor wellbeing and movement sessions, food, music, art, poetry, storytelling and lots of community connection.

Our theme this year is all about pollinators - why are they so important and what can we do to help them thrive?

Check out some of our photos from last year's festival - a tiny snippet of what we got up to!

Our Festival Partners and Supporters:

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Festival Programme

Festival Programme

Most of the events throughout the festival are free to attend. Some specific workshops organised by our partner groups and businesses may require booking in advance and some may require payment.

We welcome donations for any of the events, this will support the cost of running the festival.

Pre Festival Workshops

Pre-Festival Workshops 

May to June 2024

Get involved with our creative workshops in the lead up to the festival!

Community drumming workshops, costume making, printing and more!

EVERYONE WELCOME 

Community Drumming Workshops with Drum Devon

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With the help of James Carr from Drum Devon, we are putting together a unique junk-samba band for a nature parade on the final day of the festival. using a mixture of plastic waste collected by Till the Coast is Clear as well as Samba drums to create a big sound.

Come and play! There’ll be 1 taster session on the 1st May and then

 6 sessions from the 8th May to prepare for the big day.

You don’t need any experience, just some time to come along and practice with us. Starting on the 1st May, we’ll meet each week at Kingsbridge Community College between 18:00 - 19:30

The sessions are
FREE thanks to funding from our supporters. If you’d like to join, get in touch with James: 07540077297 / drumdevon@gmail.com

Creative Workshops for Everyone

We’re so excited to get started with our creative workshops which are being held at Harbour House in the lead up to Kingsbridge Nature Festival 2024.

The theme this year is ‘
POLLINATORS’  and we need your help to create costumes and props for our finale procession with Drum Devon on June 22nd.

Our first workshop is on
Saturday May 11th at 10.30am-12.30pm, and there will be sessions every week until June 15th. No need to book, just drop in and get creative. It’s FREE!!

The entrance to the Quay Lane Studio is at the side of Harbour House, on the ground floor.

We are grateful for support from our town council and ward councillors, and Harbour House Centre for Arts and Yoga for use of the room.

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Thursday Events

Thursday 20th June

Join us for  our opening night and help kick off the festival! Plus a day of nature walks, talks, wellbeing and creativity

Venue: Various venues across Kingsbridge

Thursday event details:

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Thursday 11am to 1pm

Deer Wood

Age 10+

Free to attend

BOOKING ESSENTIAL

A Personal Tour of Off-Grid Life at Deer Wood.  

Lisa & Marc, Co-founders of The Deer Wood Trust C.I.C., are opening the gates of their home Deer Wood. They will be giving a personal guided tour of their off-grid life, showing how they live and work, all in harmony with this beautiful native woodland.

It is a fantastic opportunity to learn about how these 'Woodland Permaculturalists' let nature lead in all aspects of how they co-exist with it in a mutually beneficial way, where the guiding principles are to nurture nature and bring well-being to both people and the planet.

 

Join Lisa & Marc on a walk and talk around the wood, the native tree nursery, their off-grid home, the permaculture garden, and learning and well-being areas for an inspiring insight into how we can all be in greater alignment with the Earth. 

This year we will be adding an extra focus on how we plan our planting schemes to be as pollinator-friendly as possible.

 

This is a FREE event, however, donations are gratefully received and go towards our conservation work and social outreach programmes.

Spaces for 10 cars and up to 20 people, children over 10yrs old must be accompanied by an adult. No dogs, please.

To book contact Lisa:thedeerwoodtrust@gmail.com

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Thursday 6-6.30pm 

Harbour House Gallery

All Ages

Free to attend

Welcome from the Nature Festival Team and Opening Talk with Rob Skinner from Life on the Edge. Join us to officially open the festival and hear from Rob Skinner - Life on the Edge Project Manager at South Devon National Landscape. Rob will introduce the LotE project - which is helping to give the UK's most threatened invertebrates the space to recover and thrive along our South Hams coastline. Rob will talk about the species of insects the project is targetting, why wildflower meadows are so vital for them and how you can get involved with the project. Rob will also intorduce a short film called the Aquanaut - a poem commissioned by LotE, written and performed by Tom Stockley.

Life on the Edge is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Opening Night at Harbour House 6pm to 7.30pm

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Thursday 6.30-6.45pm 

Harbour House Gallery

All Ages

Free to attend

Crepuscular Creatures Exhibition Opening and Talk. ‘Crepuscular Creatures’ is an exhibition produced by Sixth Form students from Kingsbridge Community College (KCC), as part of the Creative Leadership Partnership between KCC and Harbour House.

Vitalina, Martha, Matilda and Emily have developed the show over the course of 10 months, producing a moving image work celebrating the diversity of local nature.

The exhibition is on every day until Sunday 23rd June.

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Thursday 6.45-7.30pm 

Harbour House Garden

All Ages

Free to attend

Bringing back the buzz of the wildflower meadow. Talk with Ross from Abundant Gardens
Wildflower meadows have significantly declined from our landscape over the last 100 years. This has had a real impact on the wildlife that rely on them.
We can help to address this loss in our gardens. However, the understanding of what a wildflower meadow is varies widely and the information about them is often confusing.
In this interactive and informative talk, Ross will clearly lay out the origins of the meadow and how that helps us to create and maintain this wonderful habitat today.

Friday Events

Friday 21st June

Dive into a day full of wellbeing, learning, creativity and nature connection. Stay up late for summer solstice and join our bat walk!

Venue: Various venues across Kingsbridge

Friday event details:

Image by Chris Hardy

Any Time

Kingsbridge

All Ages

Free to attend

Tranquility Walk.  We invite you to take yourself off for a "Tranquility Walk" around Kingsbridge by following a guide produced by Kingsbridge in Bloom. The guide, which can be collected from the Kingsbridge Information Centre any time, lists the various quiet green spaces around town. Slow down, take in the sights and sounds of nature around you and enjoy discovering some hidden gems around Kingsbridge.

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Friday 1pm to 2.30pm

Kingsbridge Community Garden

All ages

Free to attend 

Art in the Community Garden with Kingsbridge Art Club: Come and enjoy some time mindfully connecting with nature and creating some art using the beautiful wildlife garden as your inspiration. Volunteers from the Community Garden and the Kingsbridge Art Club will be on hand to help you choose and identify your subject matter and offer some tips and guidance. 

A relaxed and informal opportunity to explore your creativity. For all abilities - materials provided.

 

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Friday 4.30 to 6pm

Dittiscombe Estate

All ages

Free to attend - donations welcome

BOOKING ESSENTIAL

Dittiscombe Estate Nature Walk: Come and make your connection with nature at Dittiscombe Estate near Slapton.

 

Ideal for families and those interested in the ‘wild’ side of nature!

 

Join local ecologist Ken Neal for an exuberant exploration of the wildlife and habitats of Dittiscombe Estate. He’ll guide you around the 20 acre rewilded valley and help to deepen your understanding about nature, and what you can do to encourage wildlife into your own gardens and green spaces at home. Be prepared to be hands-on and ask questions.

 

Sweep nets and bug pots provided. Some slightly steep paths so recommend sensible footwear, clothing for changeable weather and own refreshments.

 

Dogs welcome on leads. Parking and toilets on site.

 

Booking essential. Please book your place with Ruth Saunders on 07821 260787 or hello@dittiscombe.co.uk.

 

This is a free event for the Kingsbridge Nature Festival but there is a suggested donation £10 per adult, children go free, to help fund the Friends of Salcombe & Kingsbridge Estuary water quality project.

 

Directions: Dittiscombe Estate & Cottages, Slapton, TQ7 2QF. What 3 words ballpoint.widget.juggles

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Friday 3.30pm to 6.30pm

Kingsbridge Primary School

All ages

Free to attend 

KNF at Kingsbridge Primary School Summer Fair! We will have a stall at the summer fair offering some creative activities to help prepare for Saturday's parade! Come and get crafty with us, making a giant sunflower or a beautiful moth that you can carry with you on Saturday during the Nature Parade at 3pm.

 

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POSTPONED

Recreation Ground

All ages

Free to attend

POSTPONED DUE TO RAIN - Solstice Bat Walk.  Join Ecologist and bat expert Dr Ken Neale for a magical night walk to listen out for our local bats. Meet at the recreation ground pond at dusk. We will walk around the park and estuary to some bat hotspots, learning about various species local to Kingsbridge, their importance to our ecosystem, what threatens their ability to thrive and what we can do to protect them. We will have some bat detectors available to borrow and share, but please bring your own if you have one.

Saturday Events

Saturday 22nd June 

Our big biodiversity day in the park! Everyone included, everyone welcome. Join in with nature walks, wildlife surveys, music workshops, photography, storytelling, movement and eco crafts in the park. Find out what environmental organisations and local groups have been working on to support nature.  Become a citizen scientist and help us record as many species as possible during our mini Bioblitz. Get inspired to create habitat for wildlife in your garden. Find out about the overlooked "hero plants" in our urban areas and why they are so important. 

At 3pm head to the Bandstand in the Market Square for our Nature Parade with Kingsbridge's own samba-junk band!

We will be recording our sightings on the iNaturalist app and recommend you download it before the event if you would like to record what you find on the day.  

Venue: Kingsbridge Recreation Ground 10am to 4pm

Embankment Road, TQ7 1JZ


Saturday event details:


Kingsbridge Nature Festival Parade!

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3pm

Meet at the Bandstand  - Market Square

All ages

Free to attend

Come and make some noise for nature!  Join our festival parade from the bandstand to the recreation ground at 3pm. The nature festival team have been working with James Carr from Drum Devon to create Kingsbridge's very own samba band - incorporating plastic pollution recovered from our estuary by Gary Jolliffe and Till the Coast is Clear. 

Our nature festival coincides with the huge Restore Nature Now march happening in London on the same day - so here is your chance to add your voice to the rally cry for nature.

Gather from 3pm at the bandstand, grab some plastic junk and join in with our drummers!

Bring the props and costumes you made during the day at the festival.


Nature Walks, Talks & Activities

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10am to 10.45am
2pm to 2.45pm

Meet at the Talks & Info Tent

All ages

Free to attend

Botany Walk with Fergus Mitchell.  Two opportunities to take a stroll with local botanist Fergus Mitchell to learn about some of the incredible plants growing in the recreation ground, as well as  the "Hero Plants" that line the nooks and crannies of Kingsbridge! Did you know the RHS recently rebranded weeds to "hero" plants to try and shift our perception and highlight their benefits to nature? Come and find out why. Walk, talk and label some of these brilliant plants as we celebrate what is often overlooked or ignored.

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11.15am to 12pm

Talks & Info Tent

All ages

Free to attend

Plants for Attracting Pollinators - talk with Juliette Baston.  Hear about growing plants for attracting pollinators to your garden, how to grow your own food forest including "edimentals", and how to grow your own plastic free sponges! With time for Q&A to pick Juliette's brains about what she grows and why. Juliette grows a magnificent perennial food forest in her garden in central Kingsbridge, using no-dig, permaculture and chemical free methods.

https://cornerstonegardenlife.co.uk/

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11am to 1pm

Meet at the Talks & Info Tent

All ages

Free to attend

Join our mini Bioblitz!  Help us count as many species as we can in 2 hours! With plenty of nature experts on hand to help us identify what we find, and lots of nature investigating kit from Devon Wildlife Trust - lets explore the biodiversity in the park and learn about it's hidden treasures! Write your findings on our board and log them on the iNaturalist app (it is a good idea to download this first)


Music, Storytelling & Wellbeing

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10.30am to 11.15am
12.45pm to 1.30pm

Music & Wellbeing Tent

All ages

Free to attend

Drumming Workshops with Drum Devon.  

Join James from Drum Devon for a rhythmic adventure for all ages!

Explore the joy of drumming together outside in nature. This hands-on session promises fun, laughter, and plenty of beats to groove to. No experience necessary – just bring your enthusiasm and get ready to make music memories.

https://drumdevon.co.uk/

Image by Annelies Geneyn

Time TBC

Music & Wellbeing Tent

All ages

Free to attend

Nature Storytelling  Pause for a moment to sit down on the grass and get carried away with some wild tales with a brilliant local storyteller.

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11.30am to 12.15pm

Music & Wellbeing Tent

All ages & abilities

Free to attend

Yoga for Everyone with Sarah Scott.  Feel the benefits of a nourishing morning yoga practice in the park. Learn some simple poses and breathing techniques to incorporate into everyday life. Poses will be tailored to suit children and adults of all abilities, giving everyone the chance to connect to feeling, move healthily and have fun in nature.

Since 2000, Sarah has immersed herself in a variety of yoga styles and therapies. She teaches Hatha, Dynamic flow, Yin, Pregnancy, Postnatal, Children, Menopause and Digestive Health yoga. 


Art & Creativity

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Time TBC

Creative Tent

All ages

Free to attend

Printing with artist Emma Jones.  Always a very popular activity - get inky with Emma and create some beautiful prints of some of our local critters and plants.

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Time TBC

Creative Tent

All ages

Free to attend

Cyanotypes with artist Emma Jones.  Creative some beautiful art using the power of the sun and found natural materials.

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10am to 12.30pm

Creative Tent

Some crochet experience required

Free to attend - BOOKING ESSENTIAL

Crochet Bee Workshop with Louise from Stitch & Splodge.  Learn to crochet your own beautiful bee with Louise. All materials and tuition provided. Some crochet experience is needed for this workshop and booking is essential due to limited spaces.

https://stitchandsplodge.co.uk/

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1pm to 2.30pm

Meet at the Creative Tent

age 5+

Free to attend

Wild Lens Wildlife Photography Workshop with Rowena Mynott.  Learn how to capture the beauty of nature in this workshop with wildlife photographer Rowena. 

Learn about the basics of nature photography and get inspired to notice the beauty and wonder of the wild world around us - from the tiniest insects to sweeping landscapes.

In this workshop you'll learn how to observe nature, recognise opportunities for great photographs and how to find the best angles, as well as some basic technical aspects like focus, exposure and other settings. Bring your own camera or phone camera. Under 12's must be accompanied by an adult.

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All Day

Creative Tent

All ages

Free to attend

Make props for the Nature Parade!  Come and join the nature festival team to make either a giant sunflower or an articulated moth that you can carry with you in the Nature Parade at 3pm!

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1.30pm to 3pm

Meet at the Creative Tent

All ages

Free to attend

Art in the Park with Kingsbridge Art Club  

Come and enjoy some time mindfully connecting with nature and creating some art using the beautiful wildlife in the Recreation Ground as your inspiration. Volunteers from  the Kingsbridge Art Club will be on hand to help you choose and identify your subject matter and offer some tips and guidance. 

A relaxed and informal opportunity to explore your creativity. For all abilities - materials provided.


Stallholders & Environmental Organisations

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All Day

All ages

Free to attend

Bat Conservation Trust.  Come and chat to the Bat Conservation Trust and find out about their new project in the South Hams - "Connecting People and Landscapes".

https://www.bats.org.uk/

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All Day

All ages

Free to attend

Devon Wildlife Trust.  Find out about the work of this organisation working to protect all wildlife in Devon and to safeguard Devon’s unique natural environment. Find out how we can make space for wildlife, vote for nature and create a wilder community.

https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/

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All Day

All ages

Free to attend

National Trust South Devon Rangers.  Come and meet some of our brilliant local rangers. Make a bird feeder for your garden, go on a bug hunt, take part in some creative activities and learn all about the great work of the National Trust in our area.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/

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All Day

All ages

Free to attend

Life on the Edge - South Devon National Landscape.  Find out about the Life on the Edge project - SDNL's vision to give some of the UK's most threatened invertebrates along the South Coast the space to recover and thrive. Come and join in with some creative activities to celebrate these incredible species.

https://www.southdevon-nl.org.uk/projects/life-on-the-edge/

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All Day

All ages

Free to attend

Kingsbridge Natural History Society.  Meet this brilliant organisation who aim to promote an interest in all aspects of natural history in the South Hams. Come and learn about the beasties that live in the Kingsbridge creek mud and go stream dipping with Nigel Mortimer - our Estuaries Officer and newly appointed Chair of KNHS! Chat to Vivienne Mugford, a local wildlife champion, about all things hedgehogs and how we can help create more connectivity between our gardens and green spaces to help them thrive.

https://www.knhs.org.uk/

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All Day

All ages

Free to attend

River Discovery Zone.  Come and find out about the great work happening on our local waterways and meet two brilliant local groups - the Avon River Champions and Friends of the Salcombe-Kinsgbridge Estuary. Sign up to the Rivers Manifesto and find out how to can help tackle plastic pollution locally and get involved with nature restoration.

https://www.avon-river-champions.org/

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All Day

All ages

Free to attend

Prickles in a Pickle.  Come and meet some of the brilliant team from Prickles in a Pickle - our local hedgehog rescue and wildlife sanctuary, who have been treating sick and injured hedgehogs for many years. The team are currently fundraising for a new building.

https://www.pricklesinapickle.co.uk/

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All Day

All ages

Free to attend

Slapton Ley Field Studies Centre.  Meet some of the team from Slapton Ley Field Studies Centre - an environmental education centre on the Start Bay coastline, surrounded by 200 hectares of nature reserve. Find out about the opoortunities to learn about nature at the centre and browse some of the FSC ID guides - a well loved resource in any nature enthusiasts toolkit! The team will also be supporting the Bioblitz from 11am to 1pm.

https://www.field-studies-council.org/locations/slaptonley/


Food Vendors

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All Day

£££

Taste of the Wild Pizza.  Delicious wood fired sourdough pizzas. 

https://www.tasteofthewildpizza.co.uk/

Coffee

All Day

£££

Kingsbridge Recreation Ground Cafe is open!   Serving salads, sandwiches and sweet treats, including a variety of cakes and fruits. Hot and cold drinks, berry smoothies and bubble tea. Gluten free and vegan options.

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