Hinterlands Enfield 2023-2024 is an artist in residency project created by the Canal & River Trust to explore what value, meaning and potential the River Lea holds for the communities that surround it in Upper Edmonton. 

The River Lea is steeped in 200 years of significant industrial heritage and innovation, its present is as a critical environmental and climate asset that is enveloped by a cityscape in flux that will continue to grow and change over the next 25 years through Meridian Development.  With this growth and further urban density looming it also plays a key role in CPRE Banbury Reservoir Park Vision which strives to connect the blue and green spaces in this area for community and environment which is being driven locally by Enfield Climate Action forum (EnCaf) as part of the Mayor of London’s ‘10 New Parks for London’ pledge and initiative. Between these strategic initiatives and the existing businesses its future economical and environmental potential is promising.  This deeply interesting area is physically disjointed by North Circular, famous for its beloved Ikea where the Drumsheds super-club now sits, and home to Bloqs, UK’s largest open resource factory.

Within this promising context, this project sought to make room for open ended cultural and community-led place shaping, artists critical inquiry and children's voices and imaginings.

Through the process of exploring the environmental, social and cultural value, opportunities and challenges of the River Lea with the communities that live there, we aim to deepen connections and understanding to empower environmental and cultural active citizenship that we can continue to support through partnership working and strategic decision-making, community-led activity, adoptions or volunteering.