On the weekend July 21-22 InspiralLondon hosted a 48 hour relay walk of London’s spiralling Metropolitan Trail. As a celebration of London National Park City and all the City’s bio-diversity and difference.
Midnight walk Friday July 20 – explorations by night.
The opening night event of InspiralLondon Night/Day Relay of London as a City Park. From midnight until 2pm we will spiral anticlockwise out from Kings Cross Square – encountering the nightlife of human and of animal – exploring the nocturnal urban ecology, from flora to fauna, under the shadows of the city’s forest canopy.
For the opening event you will be invited to join artist Birgitta Hosea’s collaborative light action – dotdotdash – to reclaim the night together; be introduced to the street tree twinning project artist by Rachel Gomme and explore the urban forest canopy by night with counterproductions.
Instructions, maps and guidance provided on the night. Meet at the Spindle Sculpture on Kings Cross Square from 11.45pm Friday 20 July to start walk from 12 midnight on Saturday morning. Wear sensible shoes and clothing – plus you are advised to bring water and snacks.
On Saturday Morning we will meet again at 10 am outside the entrance of Borough Tube for breakfast and to walk on along segment 3 of the trail (Southwark Bridge to Finsbury Park)
Then Saturday July 21 at midnight – Celebrating the Urban Forest by night. You can just turn up on the night but helpful if you BOOK
The second night event of InspiralLondon Night/Day Relay of London as a City Park. From midnight until 2am we will spiral anticlockwise from Battersea Park towards Camberwell stopping at Stockwell around 2am. During this unique midnight walk you will be invited to join in the lantern displays while being introduced to 21stC Beautification Committee Tree Tops campaign.
Pioneer Inspiral walkers will be rewarded with specially made inspiral champagne or elderflower cordial as we toast the trail and London as a National Park City.
Instructions, maps and guidance provided on the night. Meet at Battersea Park Station exit from 11.45pm Saturday 21 July to start walk from 12 midnight on Sunday morning. Wear sensible shoes and clothing plus you are advised to bring water and snacks.
All scheduled artist interventions to occur between midnight and 1.30/2pm. You can join us for these special segments of walk by booking tickets for Friday and/or Saturday.
Alternatively support the mapping project by becoming a trail Pioneer – We will also be joined by Inspiral resident ornithologist and orniphilosopher J D Swann on Saturday morning as we observe and record the flora and fauna found along the trail by night and by day (meeting at Borough Tube at 10 am); recording green spaces – expecially overlooked hotspots of bio-diversity; the urban forest and street trees; traces of past nightlife and the city through the daily cycle, from dusk to dawn, from dawn to dusk.- by adding your eyes, ears and feet to our unique festival of on the ground mapping of the city, by night and by day – you will also provide your own unique set of data, memories and observations to add to our ongoing mapping. (Declare your interest in joining part or all of the walk events as an Inspiral Relay Pioneer HERE) and secure your place for both midnight walks and for the whole 48 hour event/s.
If you want please join the inspiral walk at these points – the walk segments are free to join.
- At 12 midnight on Friday 20 July at the start of Trail – Spindle Sculpture – Kings Cross Square. For introductory walk until 2am, including artist interventions and talks. More information here.
- At 10 am outside entrance of Borough Tube for breakfast and to walk on along segment 3 trail.
- At 2pm Finsbury Park for picnic stop. Restart walk 2.30pm at main tube/park exit
- At Hampstead Tube at 6pm
- At Finchley Road Tube at 8pm
- At Queensway Tube at 10pm
- At Battersea Park Station at 12 midnight Saturday 21 July. For a unique nighttime launch of the 21stC Beautification Committee, as we take a magic lantern inspired look at the Urban Forest by night. More information here.
- At 10 am Stave Hill Ecology Park for breakfast.
- At 3pm location on River Lee near Hackney Wick
All times and places tbc. with relay walkers and Pioneers. Further detailed information forthcoming (in advance to Pioneers).
On the opening event inspirallers were invited to take part in Birgitta Hosea’s light drawing performance ‘dotdot dash’ under the rail bridges Regents Canal basin near to Camley Street Natural Park.