It’s Showtime!
There’s something wonderfully British about a local country show. To me, it’s one of the signs that summertime’s in full swing!
You can guarantee there’ll be at least one debate about the correct way to make a Victoria sponge. Someone will have grown a marrow roughly the size of a canoe. There’ll almost certainly be a vintage tractor that looks in better nick than my car. And somewhere, hidden amongst it all, will be someone quietly wondering whether this is finally the year their homemade chutney earns a blue ribbon. And long may it continue, is what I say!
Because beyond the cakes, vegetables, livestock, crafts and the occasional "how on earth did they grow that?" moment, country shows are really about something much more important. They bring people and communities together.
And last Saturday, we were delighted to become part of that tradition as we took our stand to the Dunsford Show.
Talking all things River…
For many of us already involved with the river, it’s easy to spend our time talking to… well… other people who are already involved with rivers! Country shows do something rather different. They introduce us to people who perhaps haven't thought about the river in quite the same way before. Families enjoying a day out together. Walkers. Gardeners. Farmers. Dog owners. People who simply happen to live nearby. And I feel that's exactly why these country shows matter.
Throughout the day we had some brilliant conversations and met some genuinely interesting people. We chatted about habitat restoration, Riverfly, volunteering, woodland, salmon, sea trout, climate and just about everything in between. But there was one question that cropped up more than any other…
"So... the salmon... they're still here then?"
It’s quite a telling question really, because across much of the UK, Atlantic salmon are in serious trouble. Many rivers, like ours, have seen dramatic declines in the number of returning fish in recent decades, and in some catchments their future remains deeply uncertain. Which is exactly why we're so pleased to answer... Yes... they're still here… Just.
Yes, they still battle their way back from the North Atlantic, overcoming countless obstacles along the way. And yes, they still return to the Teign catchment to cut their redds into gravels to begin the next generation. However, that doesn't mean we can become complacent. Quite the opposite.
It serves as a timely reminder of exactly why so many volunteers give up evenings, weekends and countless hours throughout the year to improve habitat, count invertebrates, restore tributaries and build resilience into this catchment. Because we'd much rather spend our time ensuring people can still ask, "Are the salmon still here?" than one day having to respond with, "Sadly... not anymore."
And perhaps that's exactly why conversations like these matter so much. Little by little, awareness grows. Because before people truly care, they first have to know something exists.
A creative use of plasticine from the National Trust Tent…
Good neighbours
It was also lovely to have our friends from the National Trust exhibiting right next door to us. One of the things I personally enjoy most about these events is seeing so many local organisations represented in one place. Everyone doing slightly different jobs, but all ultimately contributing to the same communities and landscapes that make this part of Devon such a special place to live. The river, after all, connects us all.
And we're only just getting started
Dunsford Show was only the beginning. Next up we'll be packing up the gazebo, banners, books, mugs, caps, T-shirts and, no doubt, an optimistic quantity of snacks before heading off to:
Christow Show – 15th August
Chagford Show – 20th August
Lustleigh Show – 31st August
If you're visiting any of them, please come and say hello. Whether you want to chat about salmonids, ask about volunteering, grab a much rarer unsigned copy of The Teign Book, or simply tell us where the best piece of cake on the showground can be found, we'd genuinely love to see you.
The best part of summer
Country shows have survived for generations because they celebrate something rather simple... something I sometimes think we're in danger of losing if we're not careful.
Community.
Communities remind us that local places matter. That people from all generations and backgrounds still enjoy meeting up. That knowledge is worth sharing. And that conversations are still best had face to face rather than through a screen.
Perhaps there's something river conservation can learn from that too. After all, while science, monitoring and restoration techniques are fundamental to what we do, lasting change rarely begins with a report. More often than not, it starts with a conversation. One neighbour chatting to another. A landowner asking a question. A new volunteer deciding to get involved. Someone stopping at a stand because they spotted a picture of an Atlantic salmon and simply became curious.
And perhaps that's the greatest strength of events like these. They remind us that looking after a catchment isn't the responsibility of a handful of organisations. It belongs to all of us. So, if you see us over the next few weeks at Christow, Chagford or Lustleigh, please come and say hello.
We'd love to talk rivers... Just don't ask me to judge the Victoria sponge or the prize ferret!