Have you drunk your glass of river water today?

“When I ask: Have you drunk a glass of river water today? - the expression on the kids’ faces is one of bewilderment and disgust. But the reality is – they will have,” says the Trust's Ruth Clarricoates.

Getting people to understand that the treated water that comes out of our taps largely comes from our rivers, and that this has an impact on river wildlife, is the aim of two free family events called Wacky Waters.

They will be held on Friday 6th August at Langford Lakes nature reserve near Salisbury, and again on Monday 23rd August at Amesbury, Bonnymead Park. Both take place from 10am – 12 noon.

With predictions that extreme droughts, such as that which gripped the country in 1976, will become more frequent under climate change (Met Office, May 2010) we need to curb our water usage.

“Much of our tap water is taken out of rivers and then treated. We find that getting people to experience the river - to touch it, walk by it, observe it and the creatures that live in it, makes that link far stronger in their minds than any amount of telling them about it,” says Ruth, who runs the Trust’s Wessex Chalk Streams Project.

“Water is a precious resource and should not be wasted. Every litre not used equals one litre more in the environment.”

So to drive the message home, all sorts of activities will be laid on at the events, including a wacky demonstration kit that children will be able to pour water into at one end and then watch to see how it is siphoned off for different uses, including in factories and farming as well as the home, before it trickles out into the ‘sea’ at the other end.

Both events take place alongside chalk streams: the River Wylye at Langford Lakes and the Avon at Amesbury. Families will be taken on a river walk to discover the nature that lives in and around it - with any luck they might even get to see the elusive water vole.

Kick samples will be taken by roughing up the river bed a little and seeing what creatures float into the net. A sensory walk will alert participants to the many natural sounds, colours and textures around them. Making mayfly mobiles and wildlife masks is sure to be a big hit and river dipping is always a firm favourite. “It’s about discovering nature as a family,” says Ruth.

The events follow on from a successful Wacky Waters held at Smallbrook Meadows nature reserve, near Warminster, in June.

Although the events are free, booking is essential. Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and bring your own refreshments. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Bring binoculars if you have them.

Contact: For more information and to book contact the Trust’s Langford Lakes office on (01722) 792010.

Meeting places: Langford Lakes, meet in the car park. Location: Just off the A36 Salisbury to Warminster road, follow the sign for The Langfords. In Steeple Langford turn into Duck Street. The nature reserve entrance is on the left-hand side, once you have crossed the river.

Amesbury, meet in the car park by the play ground at Bonnymead Park, Recreation Road, Amesbury SP4 7BB. The Wessex Chalk Streams Project is a partnership between the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, Natural England, the Environment Agency, Wessex Water and Wiltshire Fishery Association.