Join us on Saturday 21st September for a celebration of the River Ravensbourne in the improved Beckenham Place Park (BPP) East.
Explore, learn and play by the river taking part in free activities for all ages between 11am – 4pm.
EXPLORE – See what has taken place over the past year to reduce flood risk in the River Ravensbourne catchment in the Borough of Lewisham.
LEARN – Find out about the River Ravensbourne volunteering programme, what’s living in the river and hear about the finishing touches still to come in the river and wetlands and how you can get involved in Citizen Science across the Ravensbourne Catchment.
PLAY – Take part in family friendly activities celebrating the river with our local Lewisham communities in Downham, Bellingham, Whitefoot and beyond.
Free activities include:
River restoration interventions - An opportunity for + 16-year-olds to join a volunteer session, kick starting the river restoration project in Beckenham Place Park East. (bookable and drop in)
Wild Flower Seed Sowing (drop in)
Ravensbourne Riverfly (bookable and drop in)
Rubber Duck Race (drop in)
Soundscape (bookable and drop in)
Forest Bathing Sessions (bookable and drop in)
Nurturing Wild Nature Sessions (drop in)
River Arts & Crafts (drop in)
Planet Hoop (drop in)
Volunteer Celebration & River Blessing (bookable)
This event is free and will not be ticketed, hosted by Thames21 with the support of the Beckenham Place Park Ranger, James
To view the festival's free activities and timings, please visit the Thames21 event page here where you can also sign up to bookable activities. Residents living in Downham, Bellingham and Whitefoot will be given priority for bookable activities. Follow the River Action Group BPP Instagram here to keep up-to-date with activities, news and upcoming events.
Any questions please contact Catriona, Beckenham Place Park Engagement Officer, by email bppriver@thames21.org.uk or call 07743 927796.
Subscribe to the Beckenham Place Park newsletter here to receive direct updates here to your inbox.
BPP East Location
Please refer to the two maps at the bottom of this page.
The River Ravensbourne flows through BPP East which is the opposite side of the park to The Lake and The Mansion, accessed by foot across the railway bridge a few minutes’ walk from The Lake. It takes approximately 10 minutes to walk to the river, BMX and Skateboard Track from The Mansion and is on the doorstep to Downham off Old Bromley Road, and close to Bellingham and Ravensbourne neighbourhoods.
Nearest park entrances to BPP East and the River Ravensbourne:
Old Bromley Road (Downham) Entrance
Beckenham Hill Road Railway Bridge Entrance
Ravensbourne Entrance
Getting there
We strongly encourage the use of public transport, cycling and walking where possible. There is no car park in Beckenham Place Park East.
Trains
Beckenham Hill station is served by regular trains (on the London Bridge line via Peckham Rye, Catford, Shortlands, Bromley South). It is less than a five-minute walk from the station to the park entrance
Ravensbourne station (on the far side of the woodland) is also on this line if you wish to enter the park from the southern side or eastern side
Buses
Many buses stop on Bromley Road near the Green Man – this is a 5 minute walk to the Beckenham Hill Railway Bridge entrance or a 10-minute walk to the Old Bromley Road entrance (nearest gate to the River Ravensbourne). The routes include: 320, 208, 181, 136.
The 54 bus stops outside Beckenham Hill near to the Beckenham Hill Road Railway Bridge and Southend Lodge gates. It is a five-minute walk from the Railway Bridge entrance to the start of the River Ravensbourne by the new playground.
Route 354 stops at Ravensbourne Station for direct entry into BPP East.
