All our events and activities are open to communities.
Corporate groups, please book with Thames21 using our corporate volunteering page
- This event has passed.
London Rivers Week 2024: Ravensbourne Photographic Pilgrimage – Source to Mouth
June 29 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
As part of London Rivers Week, Edwin Quast will be walking the entire length of the Ravensbourne River from its source at Keston Ponds near West Wickham on the outskirts of London to its mouth at Deptford Creek. He will be documenting this journey with his camera & will encourage you to do the same.
For up to date details of locations on the day, please join this whatsapp group:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/InvrlIgaOq09BoxbtRwqhp
So I can get an idea of rough numbers hoping to join me, please register your interest by clicking the link below:
London Rivers Week 2024: Ravensbourne Photographic Pilgrimage – Source to Mouth – Thames21 Limited (plinth.org.uk)
Anyone is invited to join this pilgrimage for as much or as little as this journey as they feel as comfortable with.
Please note; the walk will be following the river’s course on land – it will not be in the channel itself.
We will be tracing the geology and geography along the Riparian Coridoor as the river carries itself to where it must be. It will be a walk, that has been walked by many people before us.
The walk will provide an opportunity to experience the Ravensbourne’s meandering route through time and space, conversing with fellow pilgrims about historical, ecological and communities along the way, including changes to the river (physically, geographically, socially, culturally & historically), looking at its past, present and future.
Photo Credit: Lewisham Archives – Floods of 1968
We will also observe some of the restoration schemes that Thames21 has been working on within this catchment and discuss how volunteers can get involved more closely with these projects, including citizen science initiatives and other types of volunteering.
The guided walk will begin at Ceasar’s Well, meeting at Keston Fish Pond’s Car Park at 8am and will finish at the Thames River near Deptford Creek at the Cutty Sark in Greenwich at the end of the day.
The length of the entire walk with be roughly 10 miles or 16km.
There is no estimated end-time for the walk, but it will be completed before sunset.
Please be prepared with comfortable and weather appropriate clothing and shoes, healthy snacks and plenty of water. Toilet and snack/lunch breaks will be incorporated into the day. The entire walk is expected to take 8 hours. Maybe more, maybe less; depending on the turnout & the pace.
Attendees are welcome to join for as much or as little of the walk as they choose.
They are able to join at the journey at any point, and there is no expectation to join the pilgrimage for any longer than they are comfortable with.
Notable stations along the course (in order) will be Bromley, Shortlands, Ravensbourne, Beckenham Hill, Bellingham, Catford, Ladywell, Lewisham, St Johns, Deptford & Greenwich.
A live location will be broadcast so that those who would like to join at any point along the route are able to join the procession.
Depending on levels of interest, there is the possibility of creating a collective group exhibition at some point by the end of the year.
Edwin will be able to offer technical advice on camera settings, exposures and composition, as well as encouraging those attending to share their technical photographic knowledge and interests with one another during the walk. We will stop regularly to observe ther river. To look for urban wildlife, to listen, to feel and to connect with one of the Thames’ many tributaries.
We will not be in a rush.
To view some of Edwin’s old photographs, click here.
To find out more about London Rivers Week, click here.
You can read more about the Ravensbourne’s 2023 Water Blitz HERE
You can read more about the Ravensbourne’s Catchment Partnership HERE
We look forwards to seeing you on this journey. The Thames is confidant. It is, It was & It will be.