You might be surprised to hear that outside the Tropics saltmarshes bury carbon at a greater rate and store more carbon per unit area below ground than their forest counterparts on land.
They absorb tidal and wave energy and help prevent flooding. They regulate water quality by absorbing excess phosphates and nitrates in river water as well as salt from the incoming tides. They are important places for wading birds to breed, spend the winter and stop off during migration.
Muddy, grey and brown, the Dart’s pockets of saltmarsh often go unnoticed. Best seen from a kayak, these fragile ecosystems found along the more sheltered sides of the estuary are not easy to visit, or care for.
A learning journey at the crossroads of art and ecology, organised by the South Devon Bioregional Learning Centre
Let the voices of ecology experts and local artists guide you on an exploration of these precious and fragile ecosystems; saltmarsh-inspired artistic expression + environmental stewardship that offer insights into our restoration approach. Watch the five pieces created by The Saltmarsh Project Artist Collective… very personal explorations of these special places.
LAND + PLACE
LAND: How are the saltmarshes on the Dart relevant to the business of owning and farming land?
PLACE: How does local artist Ivan Grieve draw inspiration from a marshy place to inspire his work?
A MARSHY PLACE
Artist Ivan Grieve (2024)
2-minute collection of 2D mixed media works
ECOLOGY + MUSIC
ECOLOGY: What does an ecological scientist look for when evaluating the condition of the Dart’s saltmarshes?
MUSIC: How does local artist DJ and photographer Christian de Sousa draw inspiration from such an unusual place to inspire his work?
WHERE THE RIVERS MEET THE SEA
Artist Christian de Sousa (2024)
5-minute sound art piece–an extract from a 30-minute DJ mix
NEAR + FAR
NEAR: How is it possible to see the saltmarshes from the air in order to show how much saltmarsh there used to be, and how much there could be?
FAR: How does local generative artist Emilio Mula use creative technology to reveal what’s hidden in the saltmarshes?
SYNESTHESIA
Artist Emilio Mula (2024)
4-minute visual generative art film/audio
LINES + DATA
LINES: How do regular visits to the saltmarsh help local arts practitioner Beth Heaney to build a picture of the life of the saltmarshes?
DATA: How does a coastal specialist use all the information gathered so far–what is the deliverable for this phase of the project?
TIDEMARK
Artist Beth Heaney (2024)
5-minute visual art film with voiceover
SYSTEMS + FLOW
SYSTEMS: How can appreciating the Dart’s unique ecosystem help us learn about climate resilience?
FLOW: How does local dance artist and producer Clare Parker draw inspiration from such a vulnerable and yet resilient place to inspire her work?
FLUX
Artists Clare Parker & Jade Willows (2024)
5-minute dance film with audio
Looking for “Summer of Saltmarsh” events happening in and around the Dart Estuary?
Saltmarsh Boat Trips with Dart Harbour
April, May, June & July, 2024
Visit website
‘Salmon & Saltmarsh’ with River Dart Wild Church
May, July, Sept & Nov, 2024
Visit website
Dart Estuary Saltmarsh – Life at the Fringe of the Ocean with Nigel Mortimer
Saturday, 8 June, 2024, at 1pm. Meet at the village end of Stoke Gabriel Mill Dam.
Summer Birds of the Saltmarsh and River with Mike Langman
Saturday, 17 August, 2024
Visit website