WALK THREE: ELOQUENT SEDIMENTS
A series of guided walks took place during summer 2021, exploring the complex impact of human activity on the ecology of the small post-industrial Red River. Although only 7.5 miles in length, and little more than a stream, the Red River passes through a remarkably diverse physical and cultural landscape. There is no continuous path along its banks, so we plotted four circular routes which, when necessary, diverge, leading to key sites of interest and to higher ground permitting views of the river’s course. Poet and academic Dr John Wedgwood Clarke led the walks, sharing his research and poetry along the way, and invited guests including local experts and visual artists commissioned as part of the project also contributed their research, specialist knowledge and stories.
The third walk was held on Saturday 14th August, beginning at Tehidy County Park. The route passes through Roscroggan Works and pauses to see the EU-funded Filtration System and ponds, Reskadinnick (home to a number of writers, including the Irish writer Stephen MacKenna), heading on to the Red River Valley Nature Reserve and Bell Lake before returning via the Tehidy Stream tributary.The photos below give a flavour of the walk; audio and visual resources are available here, along with a map of the route, for you to explore the area yourself.
The event was produced by Field Notes CIC and photographed by Harvey Gorst.
An exploration of what’s gone into the river and what’s been taken out, how the value of its flow has shifted from priceless to worthless, and what its current state may tell us about our sense of ecological value.
