The Connecting the Culm team was delighted to be out in the community once again, joining the lively Cullompton Autumn Festival on 11 October. It was a fantastic day of conversations, creativity, and hands-on learning, engaging with around 200 local people, including familiar faces and many who were discovering the project for the first time.
The festival offered the perfect opportunity to share the work we are doing to make the River Culm better for wildlife and for people, and to highlight the importance of nature-based solutions for managing both flooding and drought in our changing climate.
Hands-on learning for all ages
Visitors of all ages took part in hands-on activities. Many enjoyed building mini leaky dams to see how slowing water flow can reduce flood impacts, while others created colourful festival fish to celebrate the river’s biodiversity.
One parent told us:
“Thanks so much – it has been great to find out more about the project. He has loved the activity. I don’t think he has stood still for this long all year!”
Another visitor shared:
“Loved learning about flooding and what we can do about it. Really interesting! Thank you!”
For some, the festival was a welcome chance to reconnect:
“I’ve been to lots of your CtC events. I always tell my friends to go. I always learn so much.”
Building connections across the community
Throughout the day we had valuable conversations with landowners, farmers, teachers, families, local groups, and community volunteers, each bringing their own perspective on the river and its future. These conversations are at the heart of what Connecting the Culm is all about: building a shared vision for a healthier, more resilient river system for generations to come.
Overall, the festival offered a relaxed and enjoyable setting to learn, share ideas, and build connections. We’re grateful to everyone who stopped by and contributed to the conversation about the future of the river.
We look forward to meeting more of you at upcoming events.
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