River Medway Pilgrimage 2026

In July 2025, Friends of the River Medway set out to walk the entire river on a pilgrimage, from source to sea. Over nine days, the River Medway Pilgrimage wove together farmers, councillors, artists, campaigners, and local communities into a shared space of listening, connection, and care. Conversations happened that rarely do, across sectors, places, and perspectives. New relationships formed, silos broke down, and something quietly profound began to grow: a shared sense of responsibility for the river herself.

Spending time with the river changed how people saw her. Not as a backdrop. Not as a resource. But as something alive; something to listen to, to be in relationship with, to honour. Water ceremonies along the way gave shape to that relationship. They offered moments to slow down, to grieve what has been lost, and to recommit to what might yet be restored. The river, it turned out, is not just a practical or political challenge. She is a cultural one.

Now we want to return in 2026, and go deeper.

Our rivers face growing pressures: pollution, abstraction, development, climate breakdown. But beneath all of that lies a deeper wound: disconnection. We have forgotten that rivers are living systems with rights of their own. Without rebuilding that relationship - culturally, spiritually, and legally - lasting change is impossible.

The 2026 River Medway Pilgrimage will weave together:

This year, we will be guided by the theme of gentleness. We will move with the river in reverence, slowing down, listening deeply, and allowing that listening to shape how we act. And, as we walk, we will continue to sow the seeds of the river's renewal. And perhaps our own.

As a river is fed by its tributaries, we are looking for contributories

Your support makes this possible. Every contribution funds the pilgrimage itself - the logistics, facilitation, and the work of bringing people together across nine extraordinary days. Help us bring this journey to life.