Singing Paddles

08/10/2026

An evening on the Avon with Kingsbridge Estuary Boat Club. Ch*****ne and cakes followed by fish chips and b**r at the Fisherman’s Rest AG. Thanks to Linda for organising it

07/10/2026

Strange encounters of the third kind; paddling from Totnes yesterday

25/09/2026

5 ESTUARIES OF THE SOUTH HAMS

Did you know that the South Devon National Landscape is home to five magnificent tidal estuaries?

The Dart, Avon, Erme, Yealm, and Salcombe/Kingsbridge are more than just beautiful views, they are rare geographical waterways known as "rias" (drowned river valleys carved during the last Ice Age).

Each one has its own distinct personality. For example The Dart is freshwater heavy, and channels rainfall directly from Dartmoor.
The Salcombe-Kingsbridge Estuary is a multi-fingered, saltwater-dominated inlet with almost no major river feeding it!

Because of their unique environments, these waters are heavily protected as official Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
They consist of mudflats, thriving salt marshes, and vibrant eelgrass beds.
These ecosystems act as vital nurseries for seahorses, crabs, and young fish. They are also crucial feeding grounds for wading migratory birds, otters, and even visiting seals and dolphins!

What happens inland doesn't stay inland. The health of these fragile marine nurseries relies completely on the tiny feeder streams and water catchments that flow through our backyards, villages, and farmland. In our village Small Brook that runs through tolditch into Bowcombe, is one.

Every time a stream collects agricultural runoff, road oil, garden chemicals, or wastewater, those pollutants flow directly down into the estuaries. Because these environments are tidal, pollution gets trapped and concentrated in the mudflats and eelgrass, disrupting the entire food chain from bacteria to wading birds.

Local communities are taking action. South Hams District Council has launched a continuous water quality monitoring project to keep an eye on our river health! It's a pioneering pilot scheme using advanced sensors manufactured locally by a marine tech firm based in Totnes.

Let's do our part to keep our streams clean, protect our SSSIs, and ensure these five natural treasures thrive for generations to come.

23/09/2026

20/09/2026

Any idea what this is? Found when paddling on a reservoir.

17/09/2026

Its quiet out here that's hard to put into words. just the drip of a paddle, the hush of the current, and a stillness that settles into your bones.
We'd love to hear it in your words. What does the peace of a canoe trip mean to you? Tell us in the comments.
This is the kind of trip where you can find it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onrWbilaF78