The Westbourne already surfaces in the Serpentine, but the Fleet (which gives its name to Fleet Street) is completely buried. Other rivers that might resurface are mainly suburban – the Ravensbourne in Lewisham, for instance, or the Wandle in Croydon.

It’s difficult to tell from the Times article whether this idea has got past the kite-flying stage. It would certainly take years to put into practice.

But I do know of one city where a river has been rediscovered – Mechelen, in Belgium. It was once a city built on little islands in the marshy environs of the river Dijle. Later on, the canals and streams were blocked up, and only a tiny stub of one left open to view, the ‘Green Water’, a duckweed-filled inlet behind a couple of monastic refuges.

But a few years ago, Mechelen decided to reclaim its water heritage, and opened  up the channel of the Melaan right in the middle of the city. It’s transformed the space – and that’s made a real impact on the quality of life.

My personal choice of a London river to revive? The Walbrook. Just imagine the Walbrook running down from St Stephen’s church towards Cannon Street – what a lovely lunchtime spot that would make in the middle of the City!

Photo credit – Jude Holland on flickr. The photo shows the current route of the Fleet river.

Post from: The London Traveler