A NEW film, presented by a retired vet and passionate kayaker from Holsworthy, that looks at everything to do with our fresh water and rivers – and how these will be affected by climate change – is being released on Earth Day (April 22) by charity Cornwall Climate Care.

‘Down the Drain’ is a 30-minute documentary presented by Rupert Kirkwood, who has paddled every inch of every waterway in the South West. In the film he takes viewers on a journey of discovery up the River Tamar, along the way finding out about how increasingly torrential and unpredictable rain is affecting our wildlife, the water we all need to drink and grow our crops, and the safety of our homes.

Just a few of the stories covered in Down the Drain include the volunteer river monitors lifting the lid on sewage pollution in Cornish rivers that haven’t been officially tested for 30 years, farmers changing how they manage their land to help save our topsoil, which is being lost at an alarming rate and the return of beavers, which could create natural flood defences in parts of Cornwall, several hundred years after they were hunted to extinction.

Producer Claire Wallerstein said: “It’s easy to take water for granted when we switch on the tap or flush the loo, but this film really shows we need to start paying more attention to what is going on as our climate changes.

“There is a surprisingly high hidden carbon footprint in treating and transporting the water we all use, while Cornwall’s population is growing fast, housing developments are popping up everywhere, farming is becoming more intensive and tourism is booming. 

“Something’s got to give – and we hope this film will help to reveal the threats facing this precious resource, and how important it is that we protect it.”

Down the Drain is the fourth film in the Cornwall’s Climate Stories series.

The previous three films are:

Under the Surface, presented by a beach cleaner, looking at how climate change is already impacting Cornwall’s marine environment

Plenty More Fish? presented by a local fisherman and investigating how climate change is affecting the Cornish fishing industry.

Living on the Edge, presented by a trail runner, who makes her way around the Cornish coast path discovering how coastal communities are preparing for a future of sea level rise.

Praise for the Cornwall’s Climate Stories included the following words from Sir David Attenborough: “The need you have identified is indeed a real one, and your films meet it very well. Congratulations and best wishes for more.”         

Cornwall Climate Care’s films are non-political, non-sensationalist, and most importantly non ‘doom and gloom’. They seek to motivate and engage local people with the need to tackle climate change.

The exclusive online film launch is at 7pm on Friday, April 22, with Q&A with the filmmakers and some of the film’s participants.

The film will be freely available for all to watch from April 23 on the Cornwall Climate Care website here cornwallclimate.org/films