A successful water and wildlife-themed day was held in Margate thanks to sponsorship by Southern Water.

Over 40 people attended the event – part of a wider education project by Kent Wildlife Trust – at the Cliftonville Community Centre in St Pauls Road. Many participants heard about the day by direct communication with the Painting the Town Green team, as they have been working in the area visiting local shops, youth centres and other partnerships. Others had come across it on the day as they had been walking past the Community Centre.

There was a model to demonstrate how a river works from the upper reaches down to the ocean, showing how the river takes the water that falls as rain on the higher ground or mountain top down to the sea or oceans. It demonstrated how soil and sediments get washed down the river and how this could cause flooding in places a long way from where the rain fell.

There were discussions around how it was important to make sure

 that any water that gets put back into the river is clean so that the animals and plants that live along and in it can remain healthy. This is why what Southern Water does is so important, ensuring that, not only are we able to have clean water, but likewise, the environment and the animals and plants that live here too.
There was also a chance to discover how to build a small bucket pond that could be added to your garden. This helped participants to understand how water can support many different forms of life, even in a small space.