Things got pretty wild down at Canada Dock at the weekend, as around 2,500 people came out to mark the opening of the new boardwalk traversing the revitalised wetland habitat.
In celebration of the boost to biodiversity provided by the dock’s restoration, guests made their way along the boardwalk accompanied by giant puppet performers dressed as swans, butterflies, ducks and bees.
The weather on the afternoon was autumnal, as local people of all ages assembled for the official opening. Young people from the area did the honours to start the celebrations. Generators from local charity Global Generation stepped up alongside an apprentice who worked on the revitalisation to cut the ribbon on the new the boardwalk. Everyone then joined in a carnival procession as they became the first people to walk over the red 170m structure, stepping from timber to timber in an echo of the rafters who hopped between floating deal planks in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The party continued with attendees getting crafty at lantern and bee-making workshops, enjoying treats from the popcorn and candyfloss tricycles and drinks at the cocktail bar run by local mixology experts Strongman’s Tipple. Entertainment included live music from the Brixton Chamber Orchestra, as well as jugglers, face painting and bubble artists.
The event was also lit up by performances from the Umbrella Project and the LED Drummers. The Umbrella Project combined the classic British accessory with colourful LEDs to create a kaleidoscope of moving lights, while the LED Drummers brought a street performance that truly shone. The light theme was continued with the switch-on of the area’s winter lights – four large 3D stars that will shine on into the new year, along with fairy lights illuminating the trees lining the south edge of the dock.
Perhaps the most impressive performance of the day, however, came from local children working with London Bubble Theatre Company. They wrote and performed their own play about the dock and the history of the area.
The new boardwalk, designed by world-renowned architect Asif Khan, is part of British Land’s revitalisation of the historic Canada Dock. The project has been undertaken in partnership with the London Wildlife Trust, Townshend Landscape Architects and other conservation specialists following extensive consultation with local people. The wetland itself provides a habitat to attract bugs, birds and other wildlife, with steps down to the water’s edge, seating and the new boardwalk helping people get up close to nature.
Emma Cariaga, Joint Head of Canada Water at British Land, said: “The opening of the new boardwalk across Canada Dock brings together the history and the wildlife that help make Canada Water such a special place, and gives people a way to experience them close-up. It was wonderful to celebrate this milestone with so many local people – we hope everyone had as much fun as we did."
Councillor Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development at Southwark Council, added: “It’s amazing that the new boardwalk is already proving so popular with local people, as a new way to connect with wildlife, the area’s unique history, and each other. The renewal of Canada Dock is a key part of our plans to transform a historic London docklands location into a distinctive, new waterside town centre in partnership with British Land.”