The Gift of Blackberries (Summer 2024)

Collaboration between Three Rivers Bexley, Rights for Weeds, Maia Magoga & Compost Mentis

  1. 2024
  1. Tump 39
  • A tree or bush adorned with numerous small white blossoms. The branches are thin and delicate, covered densely with clusters of flowers and buds. Each flower has five petals and a yellow center. The background includes more branches with similar blossoms and a hint of green foliage, suggesting a lush, verdant environment. The overall scene conveys a sense of springtime and natural beauty.
  • A group of 7 people wearing Autumn clothes are standing outdoors in a semi-circle. There are 2 children in the middle, the other 5 are adults, they seem to be talking and laughing. They are in a forest with very vibrant green bushes and trees behind them. 
  • A tree or bush adorned with numerous small white blossoms. The branches are thin and delicate, covered densely with clusters of flowers and buds. Each flower has five petals and a yellow center. The background includes more branches with similar blossoms and a hint of green foliage, suggesting a lush, verdant environment. The overall scene conveys a sense of springtime and natural beauty.

A small butterfly perched on a green leaf. The butterfly has white wings with delicate black veining patterns. The surrounding foliage consists of green leaves with visible veins and a slightly textured surface. The background is blurred, drawing focus to the butterfly and the leaf it rests on.

    Tump 39 is a long-term project working with communities in North Thamesmead to re-imagine a disused and re-wilded Victorian munitions magazine that has been closed for 20 years. As well as opening the site to the public, we are inviting a range of artists, storytellers, activists and ecologists into our programme, which is structured to reflect the patterns of the seasons. 

    For our Summer Season (June - August) we have invited Rights for Weeds, Maia Magoga and Compost Mentis to spend time at the Tump and connect their practices to the environmental and social complexities of this urban wilderness that is located in the middle of a south east London housing estate.

    Our aim is to foster unity and cohesion between neighbours and their environment, to create a forward-thinking, creatively-minded community garden that encourages more than just passive enjoyment but also enhances physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

    SUMMER 2024: THE GIFT OF BLACKBERRIES

    The berries are a manifestation of Summer's warmth and sunlight, a reminder of the gift that the sun offers every day, bringing sustenance and sweetness to the world. This Summer we will be celebrating the abundance of Tump 39 and thinking about what we can give in return. We will be coming together over food, fire, folklore and storytelling, creating a space for neighbours to meet.

    The below events are FREE to attend. No need to book. If you have any questions, email chiara@threeriversbexley.org. 

    21 July 2024, 3 - 6 pm

    3 - 4 pm: Soil Talks - learning about the importance of composting and soil care with Compost Mentis 

    4 - 6 pm: Bushcraft & Fire - learning about bushcraft techniques & campfire cook-out with Rights for Weeds

    4 August 2024, 3 - 6 pm

    Building A Community Fire Pit - building a community fire pit for future meals and gatherings, creative workshop with Maia Magoga

    11 August 2024, 3 - 6 pm

    Earth Cooking - fermenting, burying and preserving food, creative workshop with Maia Magoga

    18 August 2024, 3 - 6 pm

    Communal Fire Feast - a communally prepared and shared fire feast for the whole community to enjoy, creative workshop with Maia Magoga

    HOW TO GET HERE

    Tump 39 is located at Watersmeet Way, London SE28 8PU. 

    Nearest tube station: Abbey Wood (Elizabeth Line)

    Nearest bus stop: Manordene Way (NC). Buses 177, 229, 401, 472, 602,699

    There is no on-site parking, so please ensure that you can arrive on foot, by bike or public transport.

    ACCESSIBILITY

    The workshop is not fully accessible for people with different mobility needs. While the terrain is mostly flat, there are some stony areas, small inclines and uneven grasslands. 

    The site can also become muddy after rain, so please come prepared for the outdoors with comfortable walking shoes, a waterproof jacket and an extra layer. We also recommend bringing water or another drink.

    Rights For Weeds is a foraging project that aims to advocate for the most overlooked wild plants and fungi in urban settings. Using a mix of foraging, folklore, bushcraft and the arts, it facilitates opportunities for people to connect with the other members of the urban ecosystem. ⁠

    Compost Mentis is a soil and alternative sanitation co-op working for ecological and social justice in everyday urban spaces. Their projects include: Community compost toilet building & maintenance; Soil care and composting; Soil testing; Food growing support; Waste/ resource management; Creative nature connection; Collaborative arts; Community organising; Co-design and building of community growing infrastructures. They like to explore these things on the ground and solve problems collaboratively through co-design, making stuff, building relationships & networks, doing research, running workshops, and programming events.


    Maia Magoga is an artist & cook who works primarily with food as both subject & object. She’s interested in the social & ecological dimensions of food; the ways in which it connects communities while also shaping the landscapes around us. Maia considers food to be her love language: a ritual tool for sharing magic & a space for collective healing. ⁠