A new family-friendly exhibition celebrating the importance of rivers and wildlife across the Yorkshire Dales is set to open at the Dales Countryside Museum next month.
Rivers4Life, created by Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust, will run from Saturday, 06 June until 27 September and marks the first phase of a three-year project funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The exhibition brings together artwork, photography, audio and visual media created through workshops with schools and community groups across the region, including a Richmond care home and refugee groups in Catterick and Ripon.
Catherine Mason, education and engagement officer for the Trust, said: “Art is a powerful way to help people connect more deeply with rivers and understand why they matter.
“It’s been moving to hear care home residents share memories of local rivers and the wildlife they once saw there, and how strongly those places still resonate with them.”
She added that projects including music-making and stop-motion animation had helped children learn about how rivers work and why they are important.
Visitors will also be able to see winning entries from the Trust’s photography competition, showcasing rivers, wildlife and landscapes across the Yorkshire Dales throughout the seasons.
The exhibition highlights the Trust’s wider conservation work, including natural flood management, improving fish passage and tackling pollution linked to historic metal mining. Volunteer projects involving habitat restoration and invasive species management are also featured.
Mark Corner, Member Champion for the Natural Environment at the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, said: “Our rivers are at the heart of the National Park’s landscape, wildlife and communities, and this exhibition is a powerful way of helping people understand their importance and what we can all do to protect them.”
The programme also includes Tributaries, a community theatre production by Fell Foss Theatre inspired by the River Ure, with performances in Hawes and Ripon during June and July.
Further information is available from Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust and Dales Countryside Museum
