One of my stories is that I’m not comfortable near rivers, sometimes even afraid. There have been moments of panic, such as the time I went for a walk at Chessel Bay when the River Itchen was choppy, and I basically ran back along the path to get out. Living on the east, I regularly have to cross the river to go to other parts of the city. Of the five crossings I can use, Northam Bridge would be my last choice. The one time I cycled over it, I felt unsafe. The railings felt too low, the water too close.
These were my thoughts as I sat by the river yesterday. It was the last day of a week off, and I’d left my bike at RideRide near Cobden Bridge for a service. I had at least two hours to fill, so I’d decided on a walk through Riverside Park and onto Monks Brook, where I wanted to check the Purple Toothwort I’d first seen on a guided walk almost a month earlier. The plant wasn’t at its best then, so I thought I’d go back. It looked good, but my photo of Marsh Marigold came out better!
Monks Brook itself isn’t scary, but walking the path alone makes me nervous because it’s hemmed in on both sides. Earlier this week, I’d been talking about this to Rae, a researcher who’s looking at ideas of belonging in green places. To feel safe, I usually choose places where I have a clear view and options to change my route if I feel concerned. This was part of the issue at Chessel Bay, where it’s a no-through route.
So why did I choose to walk here today? Well, partly it was convenience, but it was also an opportunity to become more familiar with these areas and the species that live there. It was a chance to explore.
The walk through Riverside Park from the cycle workshop to Woodmill Coffee Kitchen would take about 20 minutes at my normal pace, but I wanted to slow down and go where curiosity took me. One place was to the water’s edge to look at this board, which I’d spotted from the main path.
I’d never been to this spot before. The board tells us that badgers use this riverbank, something I hadn’t realised. (I’m not sure what caused the black marks, but someone’s spray painted ‘I 💜 nature’ in purple over it).
Another reason for visiting was to see the latest mural by Joanna Rose Tidey. This is at Woodmill, and was commissioned by Southampton National Park City to celebrate the importance of the River Itchen to the Atlantic Salmon.
Mainly though, I wanted to just spend some time doing nothing in particular. Of course I got a bit hung up trying to identify trees, and yes, I sat at the cafe overlooking the river hoping to see a seal or an otter. But I also gave myself time to reflect, inspired by this book, a gift from my partner. It comes from Natural Academy and covers aspects of nature connection and well-being that I’m familiar with but don’t often allow myself time for. There’s much in the book to inspire me, but feeling comfortable by the river, letting my mind wander, felt like a really good start. I’m beginning to change my story.
Dandelion Nature 