Read more about streams…
Have you heard of rewiggling?
Kit and Poc were floating a little too fast, but the muddy banks and bends in the stream naturally held onto the water, which slowed them down so they could meet up with Kasey again. The same goes for when there’s too much rain.
Natural bends and boggy banks help slow down the water as it rushes down waterways during storms, which can help prevent flooding.
In the past, some parts of rivers have been straightened by humans, but where it’s possible, there are people who are doing their best to help rivers to find their natural paths again – or rewiggling them – which can help save houses and habitats downstream, as well as restore the homes of creatures who flourish there.
Biodiversity…
…Is the sciency word for lots and lots of life and that’s what streams give us! We can help biodiversity in many simple ways, including letting wildflowers bloom in our lawns and not cutting their flowers until they have had their fruit or gone to seed. You don’t need to buy birdseed, just let our native wildflowers grow until they’ve given nature the food that they’ve been eating since before humans even walked the earth with lawnmowers!
Riparian zones
Along the edge of any natural body of water is the riparian zone, where all kinds of life flourish. If our rivers are healthy, then the life that depends on them are healthy too. Lots of plants help keep the banks stable – and lots of different plants plus water makes an excellent home for many different creatures, including some that just love mud!
Poc and Kit felt that the riparian zone was particularly magical and the same goes for the ancient inhabitants of the earth. No matter which culture you come from, your ancestors will have been deeply connected to nature and it’s seasons – as well as the land around them.
S-t-r-ea-m – it seems to be a Stream, Poc!
Ah, what a magicool discovery. PocKit were so delighted to discover a stream near them. Do you have a stream or river near you?
We hope you will write to us at discovery@pockit.life and tell us all about it in your own words and/or let us know:
Do you live in a city, town, village, hamlet or even out in the middle of the countryside like Kasey?
How many different kinds of plants and creatures have you seen near your stream?
What was the one that you loved the most? PocKit say “all of it!!” Kasey says it’s the dancing bugs who zoom about on the top of the water.
Do you know how healthy your stream is?
Is there a local group who are trying to help your stream stay or get healthy?
If we can, we’ll feature you here or social media!
Activities
Look out for the PocKit Discovery Trail opening soon at Devon’s beloved Seaton Wetlands! If you get there before we do, email us at discovery@pockit.life – what was your favourite part? What would you add to the trail?
Whether it’s enjoying splashing about whilst learning to fish or holding a looking glass up to fascinating freshwater species, there are so many ways for children to get involved with The Rivers Trust – and parents might be happy to know that they don’t all involve getting your feet wet.
Join us on our journey!
