A calendar for all Dartmoor river lovers

What do you get that person who has everything? There's always one family member or friend who is a struggle to buy for, but here is the solution! River Dart Calendar 2026 - Flowing Through the Year is a collection of wonderful prints by local artists which beautifully and creatively map the river as it lives and breathes in each season.

The idea came from Sally Sutton, who told The Moorlander:

“Based on the edge of Dartmoor, along the banks of the River Mardle, I swim regularly in the Dart and the sea. The river Dart is approx 75 km long; full of life and colour that changes with the seasons. The motivation behind the calendar and cards was an urge to share the beauty and excitement of this magical river; to show a glimpse of the people and organisations who enjoy it, and the care and  responsibilities that go with it.

“Professionally, I have long had an interest in the social, cultural, historic and economic aspects of rivers.  For many years, I lived on the River Thames in London and was a Trustee of a river-based charity that promoted knowledge and understanding of the history and ecology of the Thames, through various cultural and community initiatives. 

“When I moved back to Devon in 2016, I was offered a fully funded PhD by the University of Plymouth, investigating the relationship between architecture and water through the eyes of people living on the Thames. The key findings centred on the changing role of the river and its relationship with the city, including issues of private/public access to water. 

“Following this, I became involved in community research projects on the Dart, including a project which can be seen here https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/place/heritage-culture-and-digital-innovation/portrait-of-place. 

The work involved conducting a series of interviews exploring different connections with the river. The result was not only an overwhelming compassion and love for the river, but an urgent need to care for its health. This was something that I wanted to share. 

“I’m no artist, therefore I needed to find someone creative whose ideas chimed with mine. I turned to printmaker Beth Munro, whose work is a reminder of the symbiotic relationship that humans have with the natural world and of our responsibilities to treasure it in a fast-changing world. 

“As part of Real Ideas Plymouth, Beth was keen to give emerging printmakers from across the South West the opportunity to work on a project that offered them the experience to engage with different river users: learn about their activities, organisations, connections and reflections of the Dart. After an open call, printmakers were commissioned to produce an image that reflected both this experience, along with their personal reflections on the River Dart and its surrounding landscapes. 

“The River Dart Calendar 2026 – Flowing Through the Year is a way of supporting local artists and independent retailers in Devon. All profits will be given to organisations involved in caring for the River Dart’s future.”

The calendar can be purchased from https://ourwaterways.co.uk/journal , as can cards of the individual prints.