Sidmouth's first ever Biodiversity Festival has been described as 'wonderful' by its organisers.

Between Monday, June 5 and Sunday 11, a series of free events took place including guided wildlife walks, opportunities to learn about the river Sid, and expert speakers at Kennaway House.

Sheila Meades from the Sid Valley Biodiversity Group, the community group who organised the festival, said: “What a great week we had with a wide range of events taking place in Sidmouth and the Sid Valley. It was wonderful to see people enjoying themselves whilst learning more about the variety of local wildlife and the importance of protecting and enhancing habitats and increasing biodiversity. Many of our event leaders were local voluntary experts and we are grateful to them for generously sharing their knowledge.

"There were some wonderful moments on the Saturday, despite the rain; a beautiful outdoor performance of nature-themed songs by the Sid Vale Folk Choir, magical storytelling performances, fascinating bug hunts in the Byes and children’s art workshops in the sensory garden. There were plenty of hands-on biodiversity-themed science activities from the Exeter Science Centre, including a mind-boggling virtual reality experience."

The Sid Valley Biodiversity Group would like to thank all the people who made the festival possible including event leaders, speakers, volunteers and funders; the Sid Vale Association Keith Owen Fund and Sidmouth Town Council.

To find out more about the Sid Valley Biodiversity Group, visit their website www.sidvalleybiodiversity.org