Telling the Tale of the Tame

Memories are fragile, and yet they are the way we are able to tell our story. Stories help us understand who we are and how we got here.

In a rapidly changing landscape like the Tame Valley, memories of how it once was and how it shaped lives can easily be lost.

Over the past year, our friends from HistoryNeedsYou have been meeting people with stories to tell from across the Tame Valley Wetlands, collecting them and sharing in the form of these short films.

These films were made for Telling the Tale of the Tame, a project of the Tame Valley Wetlands Landscape Partnership Scheme, funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund.

Sit back and enjoy these films that help to to Tell the Tale of the Tame…

Tales of the Tame, The River Valley Remembered:

The story of the River Tame as told by people who have lived and worked along the river valley. They have witnessed the river rise from being the most polluted in the world to becoming a wonderful wildlife habitat and an environment for all to enjoy:

Welcome Home, Return to Lea Ford Cottage:

The Evans family return to the preserved 17th Century cottage near Hams Hall where their parents lived a century ago:

Lost and Founded, Thomas Coton’s Hall and School:

Thomas Coton founded a school for the children of Kingsbury, Warwickshire in 1686. His old school is now a home but his residence was thought to be lost until it was rediscovered by Craig Stevens:

Welcome Home, Return to Shustoke Reservoir:

Dianne Hazel returns to Shustoke Reservoir, where she spent her childhood:

Maurice’s Memories, Cherishing the Tame Valley Wetlands:

Lifelong botanist Maurice Arnold shares his memories of the work he and his brother did to help preserve the flora of the Tame Valley. Maurice, now in his 90’s, is still recording species in the valley he loves:

Telling the Tale of the Tame is also available for you to enjoy as a book. You can access a PDF version of all of these stories and more here.