World Water Day. Adam Hart-Davis

Celebrate World Water Day with the Eden Project and Adam Hart-Davis, March 22

TV presenter Adam Hart-Davis will be leading walkers from St. Austell to the Eden Project to mark World Water Day on Thursday March 22.

The aim of the event is to highlight the fact that millions of women and children have to walk an average of five miles every day to find water which is then often unsafe, bringing disease to their families.

Some carry up to 20 litres at a time and those walking to Eden have been challenged to carrying 20kg to feel just how tiring this can be. Or, if that’s too much, some will be carrying 10kg - the equivalent to the amount of water used for one flush of a toilet.

The route showcases the beauty and history of Cornwall’s clay country, leading through woodland and heathland, bringing glimpses of abandoned clay driers and brick chimneys as well as stunning views over active mines and clay pools.

There will be music and displays in St. Austell and at Eden and all walkers will get a water stop, Sustrans goodies, first aid support and marshals along the route. They will be admitted to Eden free of charge and be entitled to a complementary Truronian bus back to St. Austell town centre.

The walk is suitable for most ages and fitness levels but there are one or two steep slopes along the route. Paths will be mainly Sustrans Clay Trails with a little road walking. It starts at Aylmer Square at 11am on March 22 (registration from 9.15am) and should take between one and a half and two hours.

Afterwards, Adam Hart-Davis – presenter of What the Ancients Did For Us and Local Heroes – will give a talk in Eden’s Gallery restaurant on his recent trip to Bangladesh to see WaterAid projects.

People will also be able to see the documentary film The Long Walk during the course of the day. The film is shot in real-time and follows one woman’s epic journey to fetch water.

Justine Quinn, Eden’s Public Education Manager, said: "This walk is a fun way to highlight the issues some people have getting clean water and we're delighted that Adam Hart-Davis will be joining us.

“As well as looking at the problems, we'll also be celebrating the fact that we in the UK do have clean water on tap. Plus, walking is a good way to stay healthy and the route we're taking is beautiful."

Adam Hart-Davis said: "It's fantastic that the Eden Project are supporting WaterAid this World Water Day.

“I've seen for myself the difference WaterAid projects can make, the simple act of having clean water and sanitation means women can work and children can go to school, yet 5,000 children still die every day from water related diseases.

“Help WaterAid and the Eden Project help more people out of poverty. Your support can make a difference."

Councillor Annette Egerton, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration at Restormel Borough Council, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with the Eden Project to highlight World Water Day and promote events in the town centre which focus on coping with water scarcity.

“One of the council’s priorities is to maintain the unique character of our environment and this is an ideal opportunity to raise awareness of the part we can all play in preserving water at a local level, at the same time as drawing attention to the increasing significance of water scarcity worldwide.”

Tasha Davis, St. Austell's Town Centre Manager, said: "World Water Day is a great opportunity to forge links between St Austell and Eden and to promote important issues such as water usage and sustainability issues such as water recycling within the new Aylmer Square development.

“It also gives the people of St Austell the chance to come in and see the great range of shops available in the town centre as well as taking advantage of some of the offers that will be available on March 22."

View images from this event here

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