A TWO-day festival celebrating the Severn and Wye will help schoolchildren learn more about the environment and the elvers for which the rivers are famous.

The Severn and Wye River Festival is being organised by Richard and Shirley Cook of the Severn and Wye Smokery in Chaxhill on Saturday and Sunday May 25 and 26.

The event is in aid of the smokery's Eels In Schools campaign, a scheme that helps children understand the fishery and the environment and the impact of our actions on both.

Highlights include performances by the Wurzels and well-known figures from the world of food including Ready, Steady Cook chef Brian Turner and restaurant critic and Masterchef regular Charles Campion.

Richard said: "We started the Eels in Schools campaign three years ago with Highnam School and now we are going into 50 schools.

"The children look after and feed the eels for about 10 to 12 weeks during which time they learn about the fishery, the environment and the importance of sustainability.

"At the end of it they release the eels as a restocking project.

"We have funded the Eels in Schools project ourselves and we want to increase the number of schools that we are going into.

"The river festival will raise awareness and help us raise money to achieve that.

"It will include something for all the family such as filleting, smoking and curing demonstrations, a charity fresh fish market, tractor rides, a rivers museum, a fish identity parade and elver restocking as well as cooking demonstrations by celebrity guests."

For more information visit the smokery's website http://www.severnandwye.co.uk">www.severnandwye.co.uk