River Fest 2025: Explore the River Lavant

Come and celebrate the River Lavant this May with a fun-filled day including the annual duck race!

On Sunday 4th May the Western Sussex Rivers Trust and Lavant Parish Council are putting on a free day of river focused fun for all the family.

This year celebrates the 30th anniversary of the annual duck race which will take place at 2pm from Pot Nore bridge.

With the River Lavant being one of less than 300 chalk streams in the world, come and join our team of experts who can show you what lives in the river bed of this sparkling stream.

Help identify key species along the river, from tiny water-dwelling insects to the flora and fauna which adorn the banks. There will also be a range of taxidermy river mammals, including a beaver!

Chalk Stream Resilience Officer for the Western Sussex Rivers Trust, Kate Whitton, explains why this event is not to be missed;

“We are very excited for this activity-packed day on the Lavant where the Western Sussex Rivers Trust will be on hand to answer all your watery questions and help you get up close to some river creatures!

The beautiful River Lavant has seen its fair share of issues over recent years. We are working hard with communities and landowners to restore it back to being a healthy river, but we need your help!

Come and see us during River Fest to find out how you can become a River Guardian and help this precious river thrive again.

There are lots of easy ways to help and you can quickly become a citizen scientist by getting involved with The Big River Watch and WaterWise Week, as well as having a go at some water quality testing.”

Jenny Quest from Lavant Parish Council explains how important this event and the river are to the local community;

“The Duck Race has always generated a sense of fun and belonging. Children of yesteryear now share their enjoyment with their own children. Locals are relieved to have the support of the Western Sussex Rivers Trust after the great concern of last year’s overpumping disasters. The river has been here for millennia and we look forward to its restoration so it can continue to bring life and joy to the village.”

This free family event will run from 12 until 5pm, based on Lavant Village Green with refreshments provided by Lavant Primary School.