River Darent Gathering

You are invited to come, meet, and share food with other community members while talking about the Hogsmill River. South East Rivers Trust has received funding from the National Heritage Lottery Fund to connect communities with four urban chalk streams, with the Hogsmill river being one of them.

This is a DROP-IN event. You can come at any time between 3pm and 7pm and leave whenever you'd like.

Chalk streams are among the rarest river habitats on Earth, and four of them flow through neighbourhoods across South London.

Despite this, many people feel these rivers are difficult to access or not designed with them in mind. Chalk Stream Connectors aims to change that by working with local communities to better understand how these spaces are experienced.

The purpose of this first gathering is to discuss how rivers are intertwined in our lives and whether our needs and priorities are currently reflected in our access to rivers. We hope to find ways to improve our relationships with rivers and each other.

We would like the opportunity to meet with neighbours and local groups around the River Darent, share our experiences with rivers and enjoy food. The day will be a relaxed social gathering, including food and drinks, inviting open discussion with community, neighbours and friends of the Hogsmill. There will be an opportunity to share personal projects and interests and explore new ways of working together.

You do not need to have any previous experiences with rivers to join us and no commitment is needed.

What you'll do:

• Enjoy food
• Share experiences about the Hogsmill River
• Share project ideas to help improve the Hogsmill and our relationship with the river
• Join in some arts & crafts

What you'll gain: Connection with the local community, ideas on how to support the Darent and each other and hopefully a cute craft.

No experience needed – just bring yourself :)

🕒 When: Sunday, April 19th 3:00pm - 7:00pm (drop-in between these times)

📍Where to meet: Healthy Living Centre (Tree Estate Community Centre), Cedar Rd, Dartford DA1 2RS

• Google map HERE.

• What 3 words: ///image.activism.trains

• Nearest station: Dartford
• Nearest bus routes: 492, 477, 96, 429, B Fasttrack

🚗 Parking: Free parking might be available

What do you need to bring?

• Just your enthusiastic self :)

We will provide tea, coffee, biscuits and light refreshments throughout the day.

Accessibility: All public spaces at the STanley Picker Gallery are ground-floor and step-free. Dedicated accessible parking is located right outside the Gallery, following the same parking instructions as above. Please call the Gallery on 0208 417 4074 if you have any questions.

Under 18?

Minimum age is 16. If you're 16 or 17 and coming without a parent/guardian, we'll need written parental consent. Email [email protected] for the consent form.

All children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

Questions?

Please email us at [email protected]

To read our Health and Safety Guidelines for this event please click HERE.

Photos and video footage will be taken at this event and used by the Trust for promotional purposes (including but not limited to printed materials, social media, newsletters and the website) and potentially shared with our external partners and funders. From time to time, external media agencies could also take photos, film or record our events.

The Trust’s lawful basis for processing this is “Legitimate Interests” under the General Data Protection Regulations. As an individual you have rights. If you wish for SERT to stop processing this data for you, please talk to a member of staff or email [email protected].

To read our Privacy Policy and see how we use and look after the information you provide when booking your spot at our events please click HERE.

Charlie N (they/she) will be hosting this event.

Charlie is a Volunteer and Engagement Officer at South East Rivers Trust who’s work focuses on our Chalk Steams in the City project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Charlie is a wildlife lover, nature photographer, wellbeing facilitator, and creative artist. Through holding nature connection spaces for people from marginalised backgrounds, their work weaves creative practices with wellbeing to build reciprocal relationships between communities and the natural world. They love providing people with foraged materials, art supplies and the confidence to draw inspiration from nature whilst nurturing a community of people and wildlife. In their spare time, you’ll find Charlie somewhere scenic, connecting with the land through photography, collaging, painting and the occasional spontaneous sketch.

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