Videos
Explore your local rivers – take a virtual river walk Come with us up the River Quaggy. You’ll head underground, over ground, from concrete jungle to restored river. Our 4 filmed walks start in Lewisham where you’ll see how the river is constrained and mistreated. You’ll see the river buried in deep, dead concrete channels and suffering from bad development and deliberate pollution. And you’ll see how the Quaggy can be a natural asset when it’s treated properly and released to flow more naturally through parks, opens spaces and behind homes and businesses. You’ll also get an inside view inside the flood sluice at Sutcliffe Park. Experience your urban river up close as never before.
Film 1: Central Lewisham, under the Police station, to Manor Park
We start walking up the Quaggy from its end – where it meets the Ravensbourne in central Lewisham. The landscape here has now changed as Lewisham town centre is revamped. But the river still runs under Lewisham Police station and up the Lee High Road before getting out of concrete at Manor Park.
Film 2: Manor Park to Sutcliffe Park
The next film covers a stretch of the Quaggy that’s amazingly tranquil as it runs through sports fields and open spaces yet so close to busy built up areas.
Film 3: Through the Sutcliffe Park culvert to Mottingham Farm
Go underground again to see inside the flood prevention culvert in Sutcliffe Park. Is it working well and giving the protection as intended? You’ll see some rare plants for your troubles.
Film 4: Mottingham via Chinbrook Meadows to Sundridge Park golf course
See the potential to break the River Quaggy out of concrete on a grand scale by linking the successful river restorations at Sutcliffe Park and at Chinbrook Meadows. You’ll see what can be done to restore our urban rivers and cut flood risk at the same time.
Video with Ken White, memories of the River Quaggy
Interview with writer and photographer Ken White at his home in Forest Hill. Filmed for Quaggy Waterways Action Group by Lawrence Beale Collins and Pamela Zollicoffer. Ken sadly passed away three months after this filming, he was a generous and kind man who made an enormous contribution to the writing and recording of South East London’s riparian history.