Increasing biodiversity can reduce the risk or extent of flooding. A range of trees and shrubs, grasses and other plants will improve the capacity of the soil to absorb water and slow the rate at which falling water reaches the ground. A diverse range of plants – and therefore of root systems – helps stabilise the soil, limiting how much is washed away and securing banks.
Community gardens can not only boost biodiversity but also the supply of locally grown food.
“Pam Warhurst … the founder of Incredible Edible, a food-focused guerrilla gardening movement, wants the state to get out of people’s way. “The biggest obstacle is the inability of people in elected positions to cede power to the grassroots,” she says… Her big idea is guerrilla gardening – with a twist. Where guerrilla gardeners subvert urban spaces by reintroducing nature, Incredible Edible’s growers go one step further: planting food on public land and then inviting all-comers to take it and eat. “I used food because it seemed to me that we needed to act fast,” Warhurst says. “We needed to get experience as soon as we could, and probably food was the thing that we could demonstrate an alternative way of living around, in a really simple way.”” (1)
My local community garden was formally approved before we began but others may be less formal but just as impactful.
“What is guerrilla gardening? It’s an act of reclaiming unused or neglected urban spaces and transforming them into biodiverse havens, benefitting both people and planet. What started as a form of peaceful protest against urban decay and the encroachment of industrialisation has evolved into a global movement aimed at bringing nature back into cities. The practice involves planting flowers, vegetables or shrubs in nature-depleted pockets. This could be an abandoned flower bed, the base of trees along your road or a depleted area outside a library or bus stop. (1)
At the same time, guerrilla gardening can involve seeking permission from the landowner which may be more forthcoming if there is a group ready and committed to greening that spot.
Saturday 21st September: Hammersmith Bridge to Teddington Lock
The ancient practice of pilgrimage, honoured by many of the world’s great faiths, has a renewed focus in this age of climate and ecological emergency. Walking together with intention, mindfulness and prayer proclaims a different pace and place in relationship to the earth; and with each other. We become fellow travellers, learning again to ‘tread lightly’ on the earth. Pilgrimage invites a renewal of body, mind and spirit, while offering a visible sign of a different way of living and travelling.
We meet to start our journey in the community garden at Holy Trinity, Barnes – to leave by 10.30am following these opening prayers
Most High, all powerful, good Lord, To you we offer praise and glory, the honour and blessing. All creation – all that lives and breathes and moves – praises you.
All the elements praise you –
Brother Sun radiant with light and energy, beautiful and awesome,
And who with Sister Moon, establishes day and night, tides and seasons.
All praise to God!
Brother Wind and air, calm and serene, powerful and fearsome,
Bringer of weather, and source of energy.
All praise to God!
Sister Water, humble yet precious, simple and beautiful,
fluid energy and source of life.
All praise to God!
Brother Fire, playful, robust and strong,
offering warmth and comfort, yet to be handled with care!
All praise to God!
Sister-Mother Earth who sustains us and governs us,
And produces plants and minerals, sustaining life in all its rich diversity.
All praise to God!
All the elements praise you
and so too all that lives and breathes within your creation!
All praise to God!
In your bountiful love,
forgive our carelessness, our greed and our destructive acts.
Lord have mercy
Forgive our selfishness, and our failure to show compassion.
Lord have mercy
Forgive our heartlessness, our narrowness of vision and our failure to act justly.
Lord have mercy
Forgive our self-certainty, our disregard for your wisdom and our failure to learn.
Lord have mercy
With humility and contrition, we praise you
and ask your blessing on our endeavours.
May we serve you with humility,
seeking justice and showing loving care for all creation.
To you be all honour and power, praise and glory.
Amen.
Pauses for prayer.
1. Hammersmith Bridge – this bridge reminds us of the importance of rivers as means of transport and also the obstacle they can present if no bridges are available. The current bridge was designed to allows ships and boats to pass underneath as well as allowing pedestrians, cyclists and until recently, other vehicles, to cross over the river. Weaknesses in the structure have resulted in the bridge being closed to vehicular traffic since 2019. During the heat wave in July 2022, the chains were wrapped in foil and cooled with air-conditioning to 13°C to prevent further cracking – a reminder that climate change presents us with many unforeseen concerns.
We give thanks for bridges and sustainable means of transport that enable us to travel to school and work, to visit friends and family, to send and receive goods and services.
Yet we lament our human perverseness in developing and using modes of transport that damage the environment and disrupt life .
Lord have mercy:
Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.
2. Leg of Mutton reservoir – Built in 1838, the Leg o’ Mutton Reservoir supplied water until its decommission in 1960. After much toing and froing, it avoided becoming a house estate and in 1990, became a local nature reserve. The reservoir hosts a wealth of wildlife including over wintering teal and shovelers, Common terms, Pochards and Little Grebes, whilst the reed beds are home to various warblers and dragon flies.
We give thanks for these small but biodiverse rich pockets of wild habitat, that remind us of the beauty and interconnectedness of the natural world. We give thanks for the work and dedication of volunteers and staff who enable such places to flourish.
Yet we lament the relentless pursuit of profit which inhibits more widespread development of such sites, and we lament the ease with which we humans expect to dominate over nature and land use.
Lord have mercy:
Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.
3. Black poplar tree – the native black poplar is a rare tree in the UK so it is surprising and delightful to find that a number of them have been identified here along the tow path. They are a floodplain species that thrives in waterlogged habitats, but with many natural wetland areas being drained and cleared for other uses, the loss of habitat has contributed to their decline. To ensure their continued survival, cuttings have been taken allowing some 300 saplings to be planted both here and in suitable sites across the country.
We give thanks for the diversity of trees and plants in creation, each one uniquely special, and acknowledge that it is the diversity of flora that enables humans and other species to thrive.
We lament our shortsightedness in reducing the range of habitats that exist both here in the UK and across the world, and the knock on effect that has on the health and well being of so many human lives.
Lord have mercy:
Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.
4. Mortlake – here in the 17th century the famous Mortlake tapestries were woven by Flemish weavers. Some of the master weavers were granted English citizenship, whilst orphaned boys from the City of London were taken on as apprentices.
Following the potato famine in the 1840s many Irish people sought work in the market gardens that then abound in Mortlake, and this gave rise to the building of Mortlake’s first Roman Catholic Church – St Mary Magdelene’s.
This riverside location has also attracted other migrants; we passed by the Swedish school in Barnes, and further upstream we will pass the German school at Petersham.
We give thanks for the diverse people who have settled along the Thames enriching the lives of their local communities.
Yet we lament the failure of governments to assist those fleeing from climate disasters and the failure of harvests, and those fleeing from wars and conflicts inflamed by climate change.
We lament our failure to offer all in need safe passage and a warm welcome.
Lord have mercy:
Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.
5. Chiswick Bridge – where the Oxford and Cambridge boat race has its finishing line. The participating crews then celebrate or commiserate at the boathouse opposite home to the Quintin Boat Club and the University of Westminster Boat Club. Much of the land on the north bank is used for various sporting and fitness activities.
We give thanks for joy that the Thames provides a place for sport recreation both in, on and by the water, and for the health giving benefits of exercise.
We lament the inequalities of our society that precludes everyone having easy access to open spaces and sporting facilities. We lament the loss of school playing fields and youth clubs.
Lord have mercy:
Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.
6. Kew Gardens – which has a plant collection of some 17,000 species from around the world. Kew Gardens also carries out research into climatechange-resistant crops, zero-carbon fertiliser, and plant- and cell – based foods products. Yet even Kew Gardens is not free from the threat of climate change. A recent report has found that some 50% of Kew’s trees are threatened by rising temperatures, whilst plans are in place to relocate Kew’s herbarium to Reading to avoid the risk of flooding.
We give thanks for the rich diversity of plants that exists around the world, and for the research being done to protect and enhance plants, habitats and food supplies.
Yet we lament the industrialisation of farming and the over grazing and exploitation of land to satisfy our desire for meat. We lament the economic models that leave many in the world with inadequate and poor diets .
Lord have mercy:
Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.
Lunch break!
7. Richmond Lock. The Thames is still tidal here and the lock helps maintain water levels between here and Teddington Lock. Even so during high tides and/ or times of heavy rain land either side of the river can flood and the risk is growing as a result of the climate crisis with both rising sea levels and extreme weather systems. To ease this, work is being carried out in the Old Deer Park to create creeks and swales, allowing the land to become once again a real floodplain.
We give thanks for the natural capacity of the soil, trees and plants to absorb rainfall. We give thanks for the diversity of habitats that enhance sustainable ecosystems.
Yet we lament the pressure we are placing on the environment to cope with the climate crisis that we have caused. We lament the threat that rising sea levels causes for so many small nations.
Lord have mercy:
Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.
8. Water meadows and parks – between roughly Barnes/ Mortlake and upto Kingston /Weybridge, this section of the river is known as Arcadian Thames. It’s a leafy green environment with, as here, real water meadows, and a number of country houses whose grounds stretch down to the river side. These homes were built by past generations of the rich and influential who sought a rural retreat – and the area is still one of desirable and expensive housing. This stretch of the Thames forms part of a scheme called Rewilding Arcadia which seeks to restore the natural, intrinsic functioning of the flood plain as a means of reducing the risk and effects of flooding. Flooding will be – and indeed already is – an increasing problem due to the climate crisis. Rewilding the river allows new and better relationships between people and their lives, the river and its ecosystems.
We give thanks for the beauty of the Arcadian riverine environment, its green spaces and its relaxing atmosphere. We give thanks for the enhanced biodiversity that it supports, and we give thanks for the restorative and health-giving capacities of these blue and green spaces.
Yet we lament the thoughtless creep of urbanisation that can destroy such beauty. We lament the pollution that seeps into the river from roads and homes, from commercial and industrial sites. We lament the careless use of plastic in all its guises which so easily ends up in rivers and waterways.
Lord have mercy:
Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.
9. Teddington Lock – here the powers of the Port of London Authority give way to those of the Environment Agency. The locks allow the passage of boats of various sizes whilst the weir regulates the level of water upstream. A scheme to replace part of the weir with a hydro electric plant was turned down in 2016 because of the objections of the nearby Lensbury Club.
More recently this area is the subject of controversial proposals by Thames Water, involving extracting large volumes of water from the river for use by customers, and replacing it with treated sewage which would be released into the river, adversely affecting the biodiversity of this unique location where the tidal river meets the freshwater river.
Meanwhile the construction work involved would severely damage the special habitats that form the Ham Lands Local Nature Reserve.
Better alternatives would include fully treating sewage at the Mogden and Beckton treatment plants such that the water could be reused to fill key reservoirs, mending the leaks which account for the loss of some 600 million litres of water a day, and encouraging customers (both domestic ones like us and commercial customers) to use less water. Domestic use in the UK averages 140 litres per person whilst in Denmark it is 104 litres per person.
We give thanks for the gift of clean water for drinking and washing. We give thanks for gift of rain and for the streams and rivers which flow through each river basin bringing life and vitality to the environment. We give thanks for the diversity of plants and wildlife that these waters support.
We lament our folly when we let good water run to waste, when we let pollution damage our waterways, when we fail to value what is so precious. We lament our selfishness when we use water as if it was an endless supply, when we use more than we need, putting other lives at risk. We lament the economic system that allows water to be sold, profiting share holders at the expense of the vulnerable.
Lord have mercy:
Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.
10. St Richard’s, Ham
Let us make a final pause here at the end of our pilgrimage. Having begun our journey with a variation of St Francis’s Canticle of the Creatures, let us end with a modern Franciscan blessing.
May God bless us with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that we may live deep within our hearts.
May God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that we may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, hunger, and war, so that we may reach out our hands to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done, to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.
Amen.
Christian Climate Action – we are a community of Christians who support each other to take meaningful action in the face of imminent and catastrophic anthropogenic climate breakdown. We are inspired by Jesus Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit. Following the example of social justice movements of the past, we carry out acts of public witness, nonviolent protest and civil disobedience to urge those in power to make the changes needed. We also work to engage and mobilise people to take action.
Community gardens can fit into the tiniest spaces and still bring biodiversity benefits. Near our local school a patch of rough ground less than a meter deep and about 10m long was planted with hedge saplings and wild flower plug plants by the children. Since then other plants have been added by members of the local community, making it very much a community-made garden and filling it with colour and variety.
Of all the green space in London, a little under a third comprises private gardens. (1) How we use our gardens can contribute positively or negatively to improving biodiversity. Solid decking and brick/ concrete driveways prevent wildlife from creating a home, whilst using pesticides and herbicides kill wildlife. On the other hand mowing lawns infrequently (No Mow May etc), planting a year-round range bee friendly plants, and including a mix of of shrubs, trees and plants of different sizes can create a variety of well fed habitats for wild life. (2)
In 2019 London declared itself to be the first National Park City, to enable residents to live greener, healthier and ‘wilder’ lives, as well as promoting new business opportunities. (1) Already green and blue spaces cover 49.7% of the land.
The fact that an area of land is designated as a National Park does it always mean that it will be used or cared for in such a way as to promote biodiversity. (2)
On the other hand plenty of organisations work really hard to achieve this. In London many organisations are drawing up and implementing biodiversity action plans, including the City of London, the Royal Parks, the Greater London Authority, various London Boroughs, as well as organisations such as the Wildlife and Wetlands Trust, the South East Rivers Trust, Barnes Common Limited, and many more, both smaller and larger. Positive change is possible!
There are about 250,000 allotments in the UK (the most common plot size is 10 rods, an ancient measurement equivalent 253 square metres). Allotments have many values such as enabling people to grow their own food, to get in touch with the natural world, to escape the confines of a flat or small house, to improve their physical and mental health through the manual work of gardening, and through sociability of being with others. (1) Some allotments owners have commented on the spiritual benefits they receive, which is wonderful link back to the story of the original garden created by God in Eden.
Allotments too could be the means of improving local biodiversity, and can help form green corridors. Green corridors enable wildlife to move easily over long or short distances without having to leave the safety of their natural environment.
What if everyone lived within walking distance of a community-run orchard?
Surely that would improve biodiversity, improve people’s connection with the natural world and encourage people to expect and enjoy eating locally grown/ produced food?
Certainly that dream is the ambition of The Orchard Project. (1) Since 2009 they have created or restored 500 plus community orchards across the country – Orchard Map
Every year trees such as the oak, the horse chestnut and the beech, produce vast numbers of seeds from which hardly even one will make it to become itself a mature tree. Rather their seeds will be eaten by squirrels, birds, deer and – if they are there – pigs or wild boar. There is a balance between the food supplied and the number of creatures fed. But then once every few years, the trees produce an excessive number of seeds – a mast year. For this year only the supply of food exceeds consumers and from this crop, the next generation of trees may sprout. This fascinating understanding of supply and demand comes from Tristan Gooley’s book, How to Read a Tree, which I thoroughly recommend.
The Green Tau 