Tales and Dreams from the River Bank
Testing the Water, a fun family day about the future of Riverside and Ludwell Valley parks takes place on Sunday (27 September) just south of Exeter quayside.
The event, which runs from 10am to 4pm will be opened by the Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr Lesley Robson and takes place in and around a marquee pitched by the Trew’s weir suspension bridge, just south of the red and white buoy on Exeter quay.
Testing the Water promises to be fun, informative and also capture people’s views and ideas for the future of these popular green spaces.
There is a range of activities suitable for all including painting and drawing, insect safari with expert John Walters, seed bomb making with Spacex, talks, opportunity to put forward views and ideas on the future of the parks, apple pressing, bike foray with artist Anne-Marie Culhane, and more.
The result of the findings from the day will feed in to a Riverside and Ludwell Valley Parks ‘masterplan’. The document is being produced by Exterior Architecture who have been commissioned by Exeter City Council and partners to undertake the work with the community.
Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr Lesley Robson, said: “Riverside and Ludwell Valley Parks are two of our most well used and loved green spaces right at the heart of our fantastic city. They are vital to the quality of people’s lives, and popular with visitors. We really want to know how people see them evolving in the future.”
Simon Bates, Green Infrastructure Project Manager for the Exeter and East Devon Growth Point added: “This event is the start of a new era for these two wonderful parks. With a rising population and new communities being created, we need to ensure that people can get from their homes to these green spaces without the need of a car.
"The plan will prioritise walking and cycling infrastructure, and linkage with buses and trains, particularly the new rail station proposed at Marsh Barton. We’re keen to bring forward new areas of public recreational space, and improve the existing areas, for example through planting orchards, providing shelter, or starting up a cafe.
“We want the plan to address the quality of ‘gateways’ into the Parks, interpretation of heritage and wildlife, help people find their way, notices of Park events, and the use of art to create more vibrant, sociable spaces. An art plan has been written for Riverside Valley Park, and we are keen to develop it through public engagement.”
People can send their views via Facebook ExeterValleyParks or email sbates@eastdevon.org.uk
