Beckenham Place Park East – River Ravensbourne
The River Ravensbourne, a tributary of the River Thames, runs through the east of Beckenham Place Park in the London Borough of Lewisham. The River Ravensbourne can be a place of beauty, but like many London rivers, it can suffer from many challenges, including road runoff pollution, plastic pollution and misconnections.
Lewisham Council delivered a landscape-scale restoration in the east of Beckenham Place Park. Improvements to the River Ravensbourne, reduction of flood risk and new facilities were part of the £3 million project on the east side of the park that started in November 2023 and were completed in December 2024. The work was funded by Lewisham Council, the Environment Agency (EA) and the Mayor of London’s Green and Resilient Spaces Fund.
Restoring the River Ravensbourne and connecting communities
The River Ravensbourne volunteering programme at Beckenham Place Park delivered by Thames21 has now been successfully completed. Focusing on a 900m stretch of the River Ravensbourne, a tributary of the River Thames, the project combined river restoration with community engagement to reduce flood risk, improve biodiversity and reconnect local people with their river.
Key improvements included river channel restoration, the creation of wetlands and a new nature pond, alongside wider park enhancements.
These works have:
- restored a more natural river channel, improving flow and ecological function
- reconnected the river to its floodplain, helping to store water during high flow
- created new wetland habitats and a nature pond to support wildlife and increase biodiversity
- slowed the movement of water through the landscape, reducing downstream flood risk
Together, these improvements have enhanced habitats, improved water management and created a more resilient river environment for both people and wildlife.
Alongside this, Thames21 delivered a programme of volunteering, training and community activities. Hundreds of residents from Downham, Bellingham and surrounding areas took part in volunteering sessions and riverside events.
Thames21 led hands-on weekly volunteering sessions to restore and improve natural river processes. Volunteers had the opportunity to help manage vegetation, construct dead hedges, and work directly within the river to build in-channel deflectors and brash berms. These activities enhanced habitat diversity, reduced riverbank erosion, and limited sediment flow downstream, benefiting the river’s ecosystem.
River clean up and balsam bashing wade 2023Participants engaged in water quality monitoring, explored river life through Riverfly surveys, and took part in a range of activities, including rubber duck races, designed to connect people with the river. Special thanks to our partners and guest contributors who co-hosted activities and supported the events, including Ravensbourne Riverfly, Friends of the River Pool, and the Environment Agency’s Senior Environmental Monitoring Officer and Citizen Science Lead.
The project focused on engaging communities in Bellingham, Downham and Whitefoot, with an emphasis on inclusion, health and wellbeing, including links to social prescribing through the Sevenfields Primary Care Network.
To celebrate the end of the Thames21 programme, the inaugural River Ravensbourne Festival was held in September 2024. The event marked a key milestone, bringing together volunteers, residents, partners and new visitors to explore, learn and play by the river.
The celebration featured a wide range of free, interactive activities across the newly enhanced park, including wildflower meadow sowing, hula hooping workshops, riverside soundscape meditations, nature arts and crafts, Riverfly demonstrations, tree bathing, vegan food, a smoothie bike hosted by the Sevenfields Primary Care Network, a river restoration wade and Ravensbourne catchment activities. The day concluded with a symbolic river blessing. Thank you to the local organisations and businesses for being part of the day; Delice Experience, Dr Michelle Yaa Asantewa, Nurturing Wild, Michelle Plant Hoop, Ravensbourne Riverfly, Red Ox Fitness, Ways2Wellbeing Forest Bathing.
The event was supported by volunteers, Thames21 and the London Borough of Lewisham team; Lead Ranger, Lead Gardener and Ecological Regeneration Manager.
The project leaves a lasting legacy of improved habitats, reduced flood risk and a stronger, more connected community.
Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time to care for the river and took part in our events, your support truly makes a difference.
Ongoing opportunities
Everyone is welcome and encouraged to get involved with the River Ravensbourne, through future volunteering and the Beckenham Place Park River Action Group.
To find out more about volunteering opportunities in Beckenham Place Park, please email
bppvolunteers@lewisham.gov.uk with the word River in the subject title.
Keep in touch with Thames21 events across the Ravensbourne Catchment: @T21.RavensbourneCatchment Linktree
Press articles:
Lewisham Council – Exciting improvement works have started at Beckenham Place Park East Side
Celebrating the improvement works at Beckenham Place Park East
We would like to thank our partners for all their support. The improvements to the east side of Beckenham Place Park were supported by the Mayor of London through the Green and Resilient Spaces Fund.
