Chapter 10 by Iris Dove

I looked towards the Ecology Park. It seemed a calm and peaceful place, I felt as if we were hidden away, miles from everywhere. I had always thought of this part of the Peninsula that way, but now it really did seem as if there were no other buildings near us. The big grey and blue skies were still all around us but I couldn’t see the Millennium Village. The water was covered in lily pads, just like in the fairy stories when there would be toads sitting on them. I could hear people walking on the shingle, so the Park must still be there in some way. I could see birds: cormorants, snipe, coots, moorhens and goldfinches. I could see people walking around moving large bags around in wheelbarrows. Some of them were wearing waders and carrying scythes, others were kneeling down on cushions, looking relaxed and talking to each other.

I could remember when you had to leave the Thames path and cross over the motorway. The O2 and the DLR looked as if they were on the other side of the river. The area felt rather isolated and windswept, I had often felt as if I was out in the wilds in this part of the Peninsula, despite the roads.

We walked through the gates of the Ecology Park and I realised how different things were. At the edge of the Park, where I was used to seeing the Millennium Village, was an open space that looked something like a village green. People were also working here- digging and tending to the plants. There were so many plants- not just in the ground but also in various containers. Looking more closely I could see that some of the containers were objects- like footballs and dolls’ heads - cut open, with herbs and leaves sprouting from the tops. I remembered that the Yacht Club used to have a nice garden, and that there were other gardens along the path that surprised you as you walked along it, but nothing on this scale.

I turned around and looked at the river. It was so much busier than it had been before, it actually looked as if it was being used properly. The fisherman who had given us a lift was standing talking to a group of other men, and next to them was a pile of different kinds of fish. Looking further down the river I could see huts, a fish market, almost a village. All along the river were sculptures made from rope, brooms and other found objects- I could remember seeing one of them there before, but now there was a whole collection. A group of seals could be seen basking on the rocks at the edge of the water.

“Let’s go and see what the rest of it is like” said the taxi driver.

We continued walking up what could just be recognised as John Harrison Way, towards what still somewhat resembled the motorway flyover. We walked around the roundabout- now covered in corn- and went towards the shopping centre.

But to my shock, the shops were no longer there. In their place were some allotments, and although I could make out parts of the buildings, they looked like ruins, with trees and bushes growing from parts of the orange signs of B&Q and Sainsbury’s. Turning around I saw a group of caravans and smoke coming from a fire- it looked as if a travelling community had taken up camp here.

Next to the caravans was a small hut, and through the open door could be seen a woman who was looking at us. “Are you strangers here?” she called out.

Iris Dove is a volunteer at the Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park