Little Dart Festival

Little Dart Festival 2026: A Summer of Rivers, Community and Discovery

The Little Dart Festival 2026 brought together people from across northern Devon to celebrate the landscapes, wildlife, communities and stories connected to the River Little Dart and its tributaries.

Over nine months, the festival combined music, art, nature recovery, citizen science, outdoor learning, community celebrations and active exploration, creating new opportunities for people to connect with the river and with one another. What emerged was not simply a programme of events, but a growing community conversation about the value of rivers and the role they play in our lives.

Starting with music
The festival began in October 2025 with a special River-Themed Concert in Chulmleigh.

Around 70 to 80 people attended an evening of music inspired by rivers and water, featuring performances from the Ashreigney Handbell Ringers, Chulmleigh Folk Club and Harmony Four. The event brought together musicians, environmental groups and local residents, setting the tone for a festival that would blend culture, creativity and environmental awareness throughout the year.

Following the river through art and nature
In May, festival participants gathered for the Little Dart Art Walk, organised with support from Sustainable Chulmleigh and Park Mill Farm.

Although the weather eventually turned wet, the day began with a remarkable encounter as participants spotted baby tawny owls. Along the walk, people collected natural materials and wove them into hessian frames, creating artworks inspired by the river landscape. Around 22 people attended, discovering new ways to engage creatively with the natural world.
Later that month, the Huntacott Nature Recovery Walk brought together local people, river enthusiasts and environmental specialists for an afternoon of learning and discussion. Led by the North Devon Biosphere, Westcountry Rivers Trust and local landowners, the walk explored natural flood management, riparian habitats, river ecology and practical approaches to improving water quality.

Participants discussed leaky woody dams, fish habitat, flood resilience and the many ways in which land management influences river health. The event demonstrated how local knowledge and scientific expertise can work together to build a deeper understanding of catchment management.

Learning through river life
One of the festival highlights was the Have a Go at Fly Fishing Day held on 14 June at the Fox & Hounds Country Hotel, Eggesford.

Twenty-three participants, including seven women and five children, spent the afternoon learning about all aspects of fly fishing and river ecology. Supported by the Fox & Hounds team, fly-fishing trainer Harry Chance and Environment Agency staff, attendees rotated through practical learning stations focused on casting, equipment and river invertebrates.
Participants carried out kick sampling, identified species such as mayflies and stoneflies, and even witnessed a mayfly emerging from its larval stage.

The day concluded with an opportunity to try fishing techniques on the River Taw itself.
Feedback from the event was overwhelmingly positive:

"Great spending time outdoors."
"People were very friendly and helpful."
"Really comprehensive, covered everything with absolutely outstanding coaches."
"We have done lots of freebies; this was by far the best and most importantly finished by actually doing some fishing."

The event reinforced an important message throughout the festival: people who understand rivers are often among their strongest advocates and protectors.

Taking the festival into local communities
The festival also travelled to local fairs and community celebrations.

At Witheridge Fête, Earth Action North Devon's Mia and volunteer Flo engaged 36 people through creative activities, including hapa zome fish printing. Young people, families and local residents discussed rivers, wildlife and opportunities to get involved in future environmental projects.

The day also created valuable connections with local councillors, community volunteers, landowners and people interested in joining local conservation initiatives.

At Rackenford Village Day in early July, Biosphere Community Animator Katy Lee met local residents, distributed information about the festival and promoted the upcoming Ramble and Run event. Around 40 people engaged with the project and shared their own connections to the Little Dart landscape.

The Little Dart River Ramble and Run
The centrepiece of the festival came on 11 July with the inaugural Little Dart River Ramble and Run.

Made possible through the generosity of local landowners, participants were given rare access to stretches of countryside not normally open to the public.

Despite exceptionally hot weather, walkers and runners followed the Little Dart downstream towards its confluence with the River Taw, experiencing hidden valleys, river crossings, wildlife-rich meadows and spectacular views.

Around 40 to 50 people took part, celebrating not only the river itself but also the relationships and partnerships that make access and conservation possible.

For many, it was the first opportunity to see these parts of the landscape and gain a deeper appreciation of the river's journey through northern Devon.

Creativity flowing through the festival
Throughout spring and summer, young people attending after-school clubs and youth sessions at The Craft Room in Chulmleigh helped create much of the festival's visual identity.

Young artists designed the Little Dart Festival logo, maps, posters and flags, immersing themselves in the wildlife, stories and character of the river. Around twelve young people participated directly in these creative projects, gaining experience not only in art and design but also in community engagement.

Alongside this, a series of River Bird Puppet Workshops encouraged conversations about birds, rivers and wildlife. Fourteen young people took part in creating colourful bird puppets inspired by river species. One session even coincided with watching young birds fledge from a nest behind The Craft Room, providing an unforgettable wildlife moment.

These creative activities ensured that the festival was shaped by local young people as well as experienced community groups and environmental organisations.

A fitting finale
The festival concluded at Chulmleigh Old Fair on 29 July with a celebration event organised by the North Devon Biosphere, Sustainable Chulmleigh and The Craft Room.

Visitors explored displays of the bird puppets, artwork and festival flags created throughout the year, while contributing their thoughts, memories and hopes for local rivers to a collaborative doodle scroll.

Around 60 people engaged with the activities, bringing together many of the themes that had run throughout the festival: creativity, care for nature, local pride and community action.

Looking back
The Little Dart Festival demonstrated that rivers are about far more than water. They connect people to landscapes, support wildlife, inspire creativity and help bring communities together.

Across music performances, wildlife surveys, river walks, fly-fishing sessions, art workshops, fairs and community celebrations, hundreds of people encountered the Little Dart in new ways.

Most importantly, the festival helped strengthen the growing network of people who care about the river and want to play a role in its future.

As conversations continue through local groups, river champions, community organisations and future projects, the Little Dart Festival has shown what can happen when communities come together around the places they love.