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Talks & Seminars

Red River: Listening to a Polluted River | Walk four: One Red River

The fourth in a series of walks explor­ing the com­plex impact of human activ­i­ty on the ecol­o­gy of the Red River.

'Red River: Listening to a Polluted River' is a research project exploring the complex impact of human activity on the ecology of the small post-industrial river that once ran red with mineral deposits from the tin mines. The project is led by poet and academic Dr John Wedgwood Clarke of the University of Exeter, who was born and raised in West Penwith and has spent the last eighteen months investigating the various histories and ecologies of the river. Over the course of the summer he will lead a series of walks each exploring a different section of the river and anyone with knowledge they would like to share about the river or who is simply curious to find out more is invited to join a small group to walk, listen and discuss.

Each walk will explore a range of themes and ideas, from the historic, botanic and ecologic to the mythic. John will share some of his research and his poetry, and invited guests including members of the Red River Rescuers group and visual artists commissioned as part of the project will also share their research, specialist knowledge and stories.

The fourth walk 'One Red River' is a meeting of many Cornwalls: exploring the biological and cultural ecotones at the river’s mouth.

Setting out from North Cliffs car park we’ll head back inland to the Red River Nature Reserve following the river’s course as far as Menadarva Manor, from where we’ll be forced to divert back towards the coast rejoining the river at its mouth the former site of St Gothian’s chapel, industrial sand works and an explosives factory.

For full details and to book a free place please visit our eventbrite page.

Red River: Listening to a Polluted River is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council through their Leadership Fellowship scheme.