Summer 2023 sees the launch of ‘In a Field by a Bridge’, a weekend festival with a unique backdrop. In a community park, beside an international landmark, this is an event to inspire sustainable living and celebrate community action.
From when the sun sits high over Tower Bridge until the last pink rays disappear behind London Bridge, on grassy fields next to the Thames; this free festival showcases the juxtaposition of incredible London landmarks alongside cityscape, nature and one of the world’s great rivers.
Celebrating everything that Potters Fields Park and the London Bridge neighbourhood have to offer; merging green spaces, evocative history, wonderful architecture, a diverse resident community, and thriving businesses, – this is one of the most culturally innovative, sustainable and exciting districts in London.
In a Field by a Bridge is the first opportunity to showcase London Bridge as a leading environmentally-focused business district, highlighting the transition to a carbon-neutral economy, low-impact living and healthy lifestyles. The impact of this festival on the local community is aimed to create positive social and economic longevity far beyond this launch weekend.
This free festival aims to enable and encourage education and action on greener living through creative programming. It’s jam-packed with an incredible showcase of live performances, interactive workshops, film screenings, architectural tours, activities for all the family and so much more.
Not only will the festival be bringing household name, Keith Brymer-Jones, judge of The Great Pottery Throw Down, to the line-up with a mass participatory clay workshop celebrating the history of pottery-making in the area with Clayground Collective, they are hugely ambitious with their set of values and pledges as part of the Business Improvement District, to showcase London Bridge as a leading environmentally-focused business district, highlighting the transition to a carbon neutral economy, low impact living and healthy lifestyles. The impact of this festival on the local community is aimed to create positive social and economic longevity far beyond this launch weekend.
Other highlights include:
Feast in a field: Ten passionate cooks mentored by renowned Chefs Simon Boyle and Leon Aarts, alongside local restaurants, bring a scaled-up version of their signature dish to the masses. Feast in a Field takes place in St John’s Churchyard, a quiet community park just a few minutes walk from Potters Fields Park and the hustle and bustle of London Bridge, but you’d better be quick, stocks won’t last long! Come and taste the culinary delights of this epic professional upskilling journey brought to you by local social enterprise, Beyond Food and Brigade Bar+Kitchen.
The Poetry Takeaway:An old burger van stuffed with fresh poetry buns. Serving up warm words – does what it says on The Van. A diverse group of talented Poet Chefs provide high-quality personalised poetry for guests and visitors, written, performed and delivered from their mobile Poetry Emporium, The Poetry Takeaway.
Exploring Anxiety Through Nature:
The Psychosynthesis Trust invites you to explore how nature can have a positive impact on reducing anxiety symptoms and increasing wellbeing in this interactive experiment. With 1 in 100 people experiencing anxiety, The Psychosynthesis Trust, based in London Bridge, has over 40 years experience of offering psychotherapy and counselling and supporting people to awaken to who they really are. In this 45-minute workshop set in the beautiful setting of St John’s Churchyard, you will be guided through relaxation techniques and ways to build a deeper connection to yourself, whilst looking through the lens of nature. Nature doesn’t judge, is accessible to all and can act as a guide to help us become grounded, whilst illustrating how to live within a supportive ecosystem. This session is for people experiencing anxiety, managing teams of people or those working in mental health, to access practical techniques and a downloadable toolkit which provides you with continuous support and exploration.
Clayground Collective: Clayground Collective & Keith Brymer Jones invite you to create your own clay city on Potters Fields, the Pickleherring site that was previously inhabited by a significant Delftware pottery (1618-1708). With a joyful assembly of locals and visitors, they will create a large-scale visual imprint in clay demonstrating the breadth of hand skills by those both experienced and new to clay. They will produce a large-scale raw clay installation celebrating the busy hands that made and decorated the Pickleherring Galleypots so loved by King Charles 1st. Once the installation is completed they will recycle the clay and it will be distributed to local organisations for reuse. That’s the beauty of clay! Clayground Collective is an award-winning independent company of creative practitioners working primarily with clay who collaborate across art forms to engage the public, educators and researchers. They work in a variety of locations and spaces, responding to the specific qualities of each one. Working collectively with others including: artists, ceramicists, poets, boatmen, librarians, graphic designers, photographers, film-makers, academics, musicians and archaeologists. Co-Directors Duncan Hooson, artist and educator specialising in clay; Claire West, arts and crafts professional; and Julia Rowntree, writer and researcher, run Clayground and curate projects.
Tower Bridge Family Activity: Wonderful Windmills: Discover the magic of wind power and give old materials a new life. This recycled craft workshop, combines innovation, sustainability and artistry to create beautiful wind-powered wonders. Suitable for all ages, but particularly appropriate for those aged six to ten.
Morley College:
A weekend of workshops offering an opportunity to explore your own creativity through clay, sculpture, paint and textiles as well as providing a platform to show the amazing work produced by Morley College students. Morley College is for adults and young people to explore their creative passions. They value creativity and are driven by the needs, interests and aspirations of their students, the shared ambitions of their stakeholders and the expertise of their staff. In keeping with their founding principles of inclusion and social justice, Morley advocates lifelong learning as a vital contributor to personal and economic well-being. By enabling access to educational and cultural opportunities, Morley College London is a force for the public good within the communities that they serve.
London Vegetable Orchestra: Experience the Unique Melodies of the London Vegetable Orchestra onboard the Thames Clipper. Get ready to witness a symphony like no other as the London Vegetable Orchestra takes the stage, creating extraordinary music using fresh carrots, courgettes and marrows as their instruments. Prepare to be amazed by the harmonious fusion of culinary creativity and musical talent! Catch them on a crossing between Westminster and London Bridge piers, or roaming around In a Field by a Bridge across the weekend. You won’t be disappointed!
Rock n Roll Nature Revelation: Rock n Roll Nature Revelation is a roaming performance that uses ideas from Permaculture to explore how nature exists around us wherever we are. Performed by Timberlina on Ukulele and Dan de la Motte, with collaborations with London National Park City, be sure to catch this both entertaining and educational show across the weekend.
Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd July 2023 11am – 7pmPotters Fields Park, Tooley St, London, SE1 2QX& St. John’s Churchyard, Fair Street, London SE1 2LD
