time frame, 12,000 years would equate to 0.2 seconds. So our beautiful Dart, which seems timeless in its beauty and tranquillity, is incredibly young (geologically speak- ing).


The river is, as previously stated, an ecosystem, built around an incredible complexity - each part depending on others. Starting from the smallest, the river is full of bacteria, diatoms and algae. All three are incredibly widespread and vital in the ecosystems of the world’s oceans. There are huge numbers of these in the river. Mind bogglingly huge. In two teaspoons of river mud there are more than 8 billion bacteria – more bacteria than there are people on planet earth.


In fact the Environment Agency will often receive calls from concerned rivers users about ‘sewage’ which is in fact massive amounts of algae in bloom – it often looks brown and can also produce a foam which looks rather disgusting. If you see it remember it’s just another miracle of nature.


Many of the river’s creatures depend on these tiny, often single-celled creatures and their abundance - thanks to the rich nutrients created by the mixing of sea and fresh water - is one of the main reasons the Dart is so rich in wildlife. The river is simply teeming with life – its population of


invertebrates - from the crabs children try to catch off Dart- mouth’s Embankment to nymphs, flies and other creatures which fill every available niche. Countless birds, including goosander, dipper and grey wagtail, along with kingfishers, cranes, swans, ducks, buz- zards and many others populate the banks of the river - it is a twitcher’s paradise and no mistake. Part of the reason for this is the flies, bugs and other almost invisible creatures, but it’s also down to the huge deposits of rich mud that are revealed every low tide. Full of worms and other creatures, its like a huge buffet is revealed every low tide for a host of birds and other creatures to feast to their heart’s content. Populations of salmon and many other breeds of fish also live in the Dart along with seals and otters – the cute pin-ups of river life.


These creatures are the ones we remember if we are lucky enough to see them, along with the beautiful bird life, but it is worth remembering that they are on top of a massive food chain that is all supported by the rich and complex ecology and geography of the River Dart. The river is once again supporting oyster beds as well as other shellfish producers – the river was too polluted during the 1960s and 70s and production stopped. Their return is an indication of the clean-up that the river has seen in the last thirty years – and it requires the dedication of all users of the river to ensure it continues in that way. It perhaps goes without saying that the River Dart is an amazing, beautiful place, which all of us are guilty of taking for granted sometimes. To look at the ecology and geography behind its beauty is to appreciate it all the more – the river is a miracle we all get to share.•


WE BUY GOLD BEST PRICES PAID Sapphire’s


Dartmouth Market TQ6 9SE


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