London Rivers Week 2026: What the River Wants Walk
Join artist Emma Smith for a guided walk along the River Lea that listens closely to the river and the many forms of life it sustains as part of London Rivers Week.
What the River Wants Walk
Created in collaboration with local organisations and initiatives working to support the Lea’s ecology – including Eco Active, Leaside Trust, East London Waterworks Park, Rewilding the Old Lea, community gardeners and local ecologists – this walk offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from those caring for the river. Along the route, we’ll meet practitioners, rangers, and researchers who will share insights into restoration, rewilding, and the challenges facing this vital urban waterway.
Rooted in ideas of river rights and agency, What the River Wants invites participants to walk with the river – to attend to its voices, its rhythms, and the multi-species ecologies it harbours. This event forms part of Manifold – an art project by Emma Smith with UCL Multi Lab and local communities, and the journey weaves together multiple perspectives of the river, creating space for reflection, exchange, and collective imagining.
This is a moment for walkers and wanderers of all kinds – including policymakers, community organisers, and curious residents – whether you know the River Lea well or are discovering it for the first time. Come to connect, share perspectives and experiences of the river or simply listen and learn.
Together, we’ll explore how stronger connections between communities and grassroots groups can support more resilient, living rivers — here and everywhere.
Tracing a path through marshes, towpaths, and rewilded urban landscapes, the walk reveals a patchwork of habitats and community-led projects shaping the Lea’s future. Expect encounters with pollinators, wetlands, volunteer initiatives, and unexpected pockets of urban wildness.
A walk shaped by curiosity, with space to listen, learn and share perspectives along the way.
Register here.
Event Details
You are welcome to walk with us for as much of the route as you wish
Date: Sunday 23rd May 2026
Times:
10.00am – Gather at Leaside Trust for a creative making session and guest talks before
10.45am – Groups set off for a full-day walk (with a shared lunch stop along the route)
13:00pm – Lunch Stop
16.30pm – End
Location: Meet at Leaside Trust, 34 Spring Lane Clapton London E5 9HQ
Bring: Comfortable shoes, plenty of water, suncream and packed lunch (there are cafes near to the lunch stop location for anyone not wanting to carry food).
Manifold
This event forms part of Manifold – an art project by Emma Smith with UCL Multi Lab and local communities. Manifold offers a programme of activities, embedded in Multi Lab research and local knowledge, to unlearn ecological autonomy and deepen understanding of our being part of local and global ecologies.
Access to Venue
Meeting point: Leaside Trust, 34 Spring Lane, Clapton, London, E5 9HQ
Public transport:
The nearest station is Clapton (Overground), around a 10–15 minute walk from Leaside Trust. Hackney Downs and Hackney Central stations are also within walking distance and offer additional connections. Several local bus routes serve the Clapton area, stopping along Lea Bridge Road and Lower Clapton Road.
Walking & cycling:
The site sits close to the River Lea towpath and National Cycle Route 1, making it easily accessible by bike or on foot. There is space nearby to lock bicycles.
Accessibility:
Leaside Trust is accessed via a riverside path and may include uneven ground. The walk itself will follow towpaths and natural surfaces, which can be muddy or uneven in places. If you have specific access needs or questions, please get in touch in advance so we can support where possible.
Parking:
Limited on-street parking is available in the surrounding area, though public transport is recommended.
Arrival:
Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to allow time to gather before setting off.
All our events and activities are open to communities.
Corporate groups, please book with Thames21 using our corporate volunteering page