Hidden Waterways & daylighting

Academic lead: Lindsey McEwen

Following on from interests emerging from scoping discussions with Water City Bristol community partners at Southville Community Development Association, and particularly members of Friends of Greville Smythe Park, this strand is a creative community exploration of culverted or otherwise hidden and/or neglected waterways in the South Bristol (Bedminster and Southville) area. 

In addition to looking at Colliter's Brook, which runs through Greville Smythe Park, we are focusing on the River Malago, and particularly a section of the river which is currently much neglected but has potential to be revitalised through development. The local community have organised to feed into the plans to revitalise the river as a group called Windmill Hill and Malago Group. 

Our approach to looking at hidden and neglected rivers and daylighting is to use creative conversations and creative community mapping to gain and understanding of people's past, present and future relationships with their local waterways. In doing so, we are also drawing in connections through other UK and international examples of daylighting (also known as de-culverting) projects led by community groups and arts practitioners. We are also aiming to foster conversations between and within communities, connecting people across generations, professions, and interests, to foster conversations to connect communities both through, and with. water. 

Malago near Windmill Hill City Farm

Walking on water! Where Colliter's Brook runs under Greville Smythe Park

Flood relief channel at Longmoor Brook (up Colliter's Brook)