Discovering all about 'Eels', and related prints

Woodpeckers had wanted to visit a special exhibition being held at ‘Nature in Art’, a unique local museum dedicated to nature’s subjects, and today was the last day. We’ve visited many times over the years and now Helena has become a member allowing her free entry. It is a particularly good place to visit as it is set in a large country house, which has significant grounds in the middle of farmland close to the River Severn, about eight miles north of Gloucester.

The title of the exhibition by artist and printmaker Julia Manning, was ‘The decline of eels. Somerset eels’, and it was originated as part of a recent project for The Somerset Wildlife Trust, called The Somerset Brilliant Coastline. Julia says:
'Quite by chance, last September, Andy Don, an International Eel Expert came to my studio to buy another print for his collection. Over a cup of coffee he told me about what he did for a living and how eels had declined in the last 40 years and especially here in Somerset. This was a perfect subject for me to explore for this project. He mentored me and has taught me so much, feeding me the latest scientific information on which I could create these prints, I could never have done it without him!'

I found it fascinating as well as worrying and the prints she has produced are beautiful, colourful and evocative. Julia has kindly made all of the works available to view here as a downloadable pdf on her website, with the corresponding information sheets telling the vital story of eels and their contemporary problems of survival.

While we were in Twigworth we both wanted to drive the short distance to a point on the River Severn where it passes under the lee of Wainlode Hill, which we've also visited a few times before. We stretched our legs beside the river and were lucky to watch a narrowboat sailing downstream to Gloucester Docks, where it can safely moor. This stretch of the river is still tidal and can be very fast flowing when there has been a lot of recent rain. It is quite unusual in the Severn Vale to have a high cliff which the river has formed by eroding a hillside. Much of the landscape is very flat, and thus is prone to severe flooding.

It also seemed resonant today as the Severn is a very important breeding ground for eels and has historically had an important fishing industry at various pointss of not only the  Severn Estuary but also on the river's upper reaches, north of Wainlode and beyond to Tewkesbury and Worcester. The highest Severn Bore events can even be discerned this far inland.