The Lower Char Community Project is working hard to clean up our beautiful River Char so that:

• the river can be free of pollution

• wildlife can flourish in and along the river

• our children and visitors can bathe freely in the lagoon where the River Char meets the sea.

1. As Citizen Scientists we are monitoring the water so that we build up scientific data to support our conversations with Wessex Water, The Environment Agency and our local MP.

2. We are also looking for (and finding!) ways to reduce the amount of storm water and untreated sewage that is released into the river.

3. Finally, we are finding ways to involve the local community, With support from local residents, organisations and groups, we have organised two workshops in April and are planning the first ever Charmouth Dragon River Festival on 27th May 2023. This will be a day of celebration, as our Dragon parades through the village from the river to the sea. There will be songs and music by the sea, there will be stories of dragons and a dragon-naming competition in the village hall. We will have all kinds of stalls with information about our river and what we can do to help. There will be an exhibition of river art work and photographs and dragon biscuits at teatime! We hope that this will become an annual event.

We have all worked for free, as volunteers, and have covered many of the costs ourselves. We have got a small amount of funding but need to raise more so we can make the Festival a success and gather more information for our campaign to clean up the river.

Please give generously and come and enjoy the day on May 27th, 2023 in Charmouth with the parade starting at 11.00 am from Barrs Lane, Charmouth DT6 6SP

www.riverchar.org