Connecting the Culm Forum #6
2024-03-14 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Cullompton Community Centre, Pye Corner, Cullompton, Devon, EX15 1JX
Nature Recovery is a big topic in 2024 as, across England, statutory Local Nature Recovery Strategies are being developed for the first time. With a range of fascinating speakers we’ll explore what this means for the River Culm including:

Why does the Culm flood and what can we do with all the water? – Julian Payne, Geomorphologist, Environment Agency
What role could beavers play in a new future for the Culm? – Matt Holden, Beaver Project Lead, Devon Wildlife Trust
Crayfish of the Culm and plans for their rescue – James Maben
The Culm at Killerton: how nature is making a comeback – the National Trust
Water Quality in the Culm – citizen science driving change – Richard Horrocks and Tim Burt, Riverfly and CSI volunteers
How we are seeking nature recovery opportunities on the ground with the help of the Environment Agency, Network Rail, South West Water, National Highways, Mid Devon District Council and others, in partnership with local landowners and occupiers.

Once again the event is at the welcoming venue of the Cullompton Community Centre with complimentary wine and cheese included in your free ticket. Register on Eventbrite to be sure of a place!

Drowning by numbers: the past, present and future of ancient water meadows
2025-02-06 19:00 - 21:00 | Coldharbour Mill, Uffculme, Cullompton, EX15 3EE
Come along on Thursday, 6 February 2025, at 7pm for a FREE evening exploring the history, ecology, and future of water meadows, one of England’s most iconic yet endangered landscapes.
Dr. Roger Cutting, a leading expert, will share his insights into the historical development of water meadows, explaining how to identify these unique features and the traditional techniques used to manage them. He will highlight their ecological importance as one of the UK’s most vulnerable habitats and discuss strategies for their conservation to ensure their survival for generations to come.
Lucy Jefferson, Senior Culm Catchment Officer, will provide an update on the progress of the Connecting the Culm project, focusing on the latest developments in the Devon Resilience Innovation Project (DRIP) and future plans for restoring water meadows in the River Culm catchment.
Free parking is available at the venue.
Booking essential: Reserve your place today!

Connecting the Culm forum #7 - Managing water for nature and people
2025-04-03 19:00 - 21:00 | Cullompton Community Centre, Pye Corner, Cullompton, Devon, EX15 1JX
From a changing climate to growing communities, the future presents us with many challenges. We’ll explore what this means for the River Culm with a range of speakers and the opportunity for discussion:
Cllr Natasha Bradshaw – Mid Devon District Council
Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change.
Julie Gregory – Network Rail
Head of Weather Resilience and Sustainable Growth
Lucy Jefferson – Blackdown Hills National Landscape
Senior Culm Catchment Officer
Followed by open forum: speaker Q&A, discussion, and networking.
This is a free event with complementary refreshments.
Click here to book your place

River Culm heritage and environment walking tour
2025-09-18 06:00 - 19:30 | Culmstock Village Hall, Millmoor, Culmstock, Cullompton, EX15 3JW
Join James Maben from the Saving Devon’s Native Crayfish project, and the Connecting the Culm team for an evening walk exploring the rich natural and cultural history of the River Culm.
The guided walk, starting at Culmstock Bridge and walking towards Hunkin Wood and back, will include checking crayfish traps to see native White-clawed Crayfish, and learn about the threats they face, as well as how local conservation work is helping to protect them from extinction.
The walk will also explore the history of the River Culm and how it has changed over time from a multi-braided channel wetland system to the river we see today.
Booking essential – click here to book your place
Meeting point: Culmstock Bridge (opposite the pub) what3words: ///barefoot.majors.belief
Parking: Please park in Culmstock Village Hall car park, EX15 3JW (we have reserved it for this event) and walk down to Culmstock Bridge. Do not park at the pub.
Access: Uneven ground and fields; may include gates or stiles. Appropriate footwear is required and pleae bring suitable clothing for the weather.
Dogs: Well-behaved dogs on leads welcome.
This event is part of the Blackdown Hills National Landscape Festival of Heritage 2025.

Connecting the Culm forum #8 - Roots to Recovery
2026-03-26 19:00 - 21:00 | Cullompton Community Centre, Pye Corner, Cullompton, Devon, EX15 1JX
This year our focus is on soils and their crucial role in both nature recovery and flood resilience. What can we do to maximise the amount of water soaking into the ground, rather than running over the surface and adding to flood risk? Two Devon farmers join us to talk nature, soils, water and business!

Andy Gray, a pioneering farmer from the Crediton area, talks about trees on farms and growing better soil.
Lucy Jefferson, CtC Senior Catchment Officer, talks about the interventions we have been making on one of the Culm farms.
Dominic Acland talks about the Devon Local Nature Recovery Strategy, how it can help guide actions and how soils played a key part in its development.

We’ll follow the speakers with an open forum with Q&A, discussion, and networking. Free refreshments.
Click here to book your place
