To celebrate the rich history of the Tamar Valley, a brand-new shanty, the Tamar Shanty, will be sung by local school children and community choirs at the Tamar Valley River Festival in Calstock on 26 October.
The Tamar Valley has a long history as a centre for food and flower production. In its heyday in the 1950’s, market gardening was a major industry in the area, supported by eight to ten thousand people and market gardeners would pass messages along the valley through song.
Local woman, Rosie Fierek, wrote the Tamar Shanty. Rosie is known in the Tamar Valley for her large ceramic murals, and music. She has done a lot to promote Cornish music and was honoured in 2019 to be made a Cornish Bard for her work in community arts.
Bryony James, Community and Volunteer Officer for the Tamara Landscape Partnership Scheme said:
“The River Tamar is an important part of the culture and natural landscape of Devon and Cornwall. We commissioned the Tamar Shanty to combine traditional songs which have been present on the Tamar for generations with our modern-day communities. Historically growers would sing down the river from one grower to the next, passing messages along the river. The Tamar Shanty celebrates our heritage and the importance of the river, which will hopefully be sung by the local community for years to come.”
Rosie Fierek said:
“There were so many aspects of the Tamar Valley that inspired me in writing the song. Some I mention include wild life, mining, fishing, boating, history, legend, and the colour green. One of my favourite lines is ‘When we’re walking along the river, the water reflects – and so can we’.”
The Tamar Valley River Festival is a free family event that will celebrate the River Tamar through art, crafts, music, food and drink. A host of interactive activities and workshops will be on offer, including folk music, gig racing, multi-media exhibitions, singing workshops, nature walks, art activities as well as a River of Hope exhibition and parade by local school children.
Local schools, Calstock Parish Council, Tamar Valley National Landscape, Tamar Grow Local, the National Trust and a number of community groups are involved. More details can be found on the Tamara Scheme’s website www.tamaralandscapepartnership.org.uk/tamar-valley-river-festival.
The Tamara Landscape Partnership Scheme aims to create a brighter future for the Tamar Valley and its communities by working with farmers, landowners and communities to manage and enhance landscapes that are rich in wildlife, as well as cultural and historic heritage; to help improve access to special places and to promote ways for people to enjoy the landscape whilst improving their health and wellbeing. With match-funding commitments from other partners, the total to be invested across the Tamar Valley landscape until 2025 will be £3.2 million.