The Cinderella River

Behind The Scenes

Another of my projects with The South Downs National Park (SDNPA), is out in the world and this one celebrates the wonders of chalk streams.

Ben Shade CC BY-SA 3.0

When I was tasked with telling a story for Wonderful Water day, part of the SDNPA’s ReNature Festival, I started to research the stories associated with rivers within the National Park.

There are so many stories of the grand rivers of the UK but very few of what is often referred to as Cinderella Rivers. These rivers do not flow as fast or as wide as their bigger sisters.

I also felt this motif represented so well what chalk streams do for us. They clean for us, provide us with food and they are steady in their purpose, yet so often forgotten.

And so it is, that instead of retelling an ancient folktale, I wrote an original tale with an ancient motif, one that celebrates the Cinderella story of The Meon River.

I hope you enjoy the Meon’s story:

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