River Where The Oak Trees Grow
Dart or ‘Darant’ (meaning Oak stream) in Brythonic Celtic.
Many of the trees along these riverbanks are as old as the language itself. You will still find ancient oaks and rare temperate rainforest within the Dart Valley. It is a river renown for its wild and wooded beauty. The Dart tumbles down from Dartmoor, through South Devon and out to sea at the colourful fishing port of Dartmouth.
I am lucky enough to live close to the river Dart in Totnes. Every summer we enjoy lazy, sunny afternoons beside the river. On more adventurous days we head up to Dartmoor for a wilder swim. The river is a constant companion, a backdrop to our lives and part of our community.
Like many other rivers in the UK, the Dart is vulnerable to pollution from sewers, agriculture and forever chemicals. A House of Commons report from last year concluded that no river in England was free from chemical contamination and only 14% had ‘good’ ecological status.
I started documenting the Dart last year (2022) and this summer I was commissioned by Surfers Against Sewage to document river users and community along the Dart. A local initiative Friends of the Dart are currently measuring water pollution levels and applying for bathing water status at four different locations.
Part commission and part personal work, these pictures are just the beginning of a project that is slowly evolving into a portrait of the River Dart. As an artist, I am particularly interested in the layering of human narratives within a landscape. This river sets the stage for the unfolding of many stories, from happy family days out to a natural tonic for the bereaved and heartbroken. I want future generations to continue to enjoy our rivers and I hope these images inspire others to care for their wild waters.
