Caring for the River Medway: A Day of River Guardianship

About

Join us for a day of community action, creativity, and connection along the River Medway. As part of the River Medway Pilgrimage, we'll explore what it means to care for and protect our local river through a community litter pick, an introduction to citizen science, children's raft-making, and a guided walk from Maidstone to Aylesford.

Families are especially welcome. Children will have the opportunity to create small rafts from natural and reclaimed materials and send them downstream carrying their hopes and dreams for the future of the river. Together, we'll celebrate the Medway, learn from its stories, and discover how communities can play a vital role in its future.

Schedule

🧤 9:30-11:00am | Community Litter Pick

We'll begin the day with hands-on action, helping to care for the river corridor through a community litter pick. As we work together, we'll explore some of the challenges facing rivers today and how small local actions contribute to wider environmental change. This is a chance to make an immediate positive impact while connecting with others who care about the future of the Medway.

🔬 11am-12pm | Citizen Science Introduction 

Discover how communities can help monitor and protect river health. This introductory session will explore simple citizen science approaches used to record observations about water quality, biodiversity, and environmental change. 

🥪 12:00pm-1:00pm | Riverside Picnic Lunch

Bring your own lunch and enjoy a relaxed riverside picnic by the Medway. This is an opportunity to connect with fellow participants, share stories, and spend time beside the water. Sweet treats will be provided.

🛶 1:00pm-3:00pm | Children's Raft-Making & Dreams for the River

This creative, family-friendly session invites children and their families to build small rafts using natural and reclaimed materials. Inspired by the river's history and ecology, participants will be encouraged to reflect on what they love about the Medway and imagine the future they would like to see for it.

Once completed, the rafts will become vessels for hopes, wishes, and dreams for the river. Through, we'll gift them onto the Medway, creating a memorable moment of imagination, care, and connection with the waterway. Children of all ages are welcome to participate.

🚶 3:00pm-5:00pm | Guided Walk from Maidstone to Aylesford

We'll conclude the day with a guided walk following the River Medway from Maidstone to Aylesford. Along the route, we'll explore the river's ecology, cultural heritage, and rich history while observing the landscapes, habitats, and species that depend upon its waters. The walk offers an opportunity to reflect on the day's themes of stewardship, guardianship, and our relationship with the natural world.

Participants can return via public transport from Aylesford at the end of the walk.

Join Us

River Guardianship Day is an opportunity to slow down, listen to the river, learn from its stories, and take meaningful action for its future. Through practical care, shared learning, and creative participation, we'll explore how each of us can help ensure that the River Medway continues to thrive for generations to come.

We look forward to welcoming you to the river.