What a suburb day it was for “Testing The Water” at Exeter Quay – Exeter City Council has appointed consultants Exterior Architecture to produce a master plan for the Riverside & Ludwell Valley Parks. The need for this plan is driven largely by housing growth. The resulting increase in population has an indirect impact on the Exe Estuary, which is a protected European wildlife site.

One of the elements of the mitigation strategy is the enhancement of alternative natural greenspace, and the Council has identified these two Parks for this purpose. We need to make the Parks more attractive for people, particularly those walking the dog, thus taking pressure off the estuary and its wild bird populations.

Simon Bates from ECC organised the day with Suzanne Heath, Project manager of Ginkgo. We kicked off with a short speech outside tent by Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Lesley Robson. Passersby came along and put their mark on the on the map ‘Planning for Real’ – where they’d like to see certain activities or changes.

Great activities included Magical moths and looking at crickets and a bug hunt with John Walters as well as drawing and painting. Children made seed bombs with Spacex and we had a couple of fab bike forages with Anne-Marie Culhane.

There was a chance to have a go on the Apple press and there was also ‘Bike smoothies’ with wild autumn fruits. Fruit & veg stall – delicious, fresh produce from the allotment growers next door – an honesty stall and Alexei from The Hall Exeter organised the Pecha Kucha talks in the marquee which were fabulous!