ESEA Sisters Nature Walk x Wild Patch

For our first walk of the Summer, we are collaborating with Wild Patch on a foraging walk in Lea Valley, London.

The 5-kilometre walk gives us an opportunity to slow down, reflect upon our relationship with nature, while foraging in a marshland set against an industrial and urban backdrop.

We will be exploring how wild plants thrive in an urban context, drawing parallels with how we, as ESEA diasporic communities, thrive in the UK.

Wild Patch is a collaborative multi-site project by visual artist Derek Tumala and curator Ligaya Salazar that explores the power and symbolism of wild plants. In the context of a planned garden and in agricultural farming, and how it is often in conflict with societal preferences and productivity.

The project explores the act of othering in the pursuit of a manicured garden, mirroring that beauty and functionality can only exist only in a ‘normative’ and ‘morally right’ society. Through a series of hands-on workshops, film screenings and hybrid reading groups in two ecologically distinct ‘patches’ of earth, the project seeks to question the idea of wild plants as ‘other’ both as a metaphor for queerness and diasporic communities in the global North.

To ensure as many members are able to join us as possible, do make sure that you’re definitely joining us when you sign up.

We’ve worked closely with our lovely collaborators to tailor materials that are dependent on the active engagement from a specific group size, so spaces are limited.

Staying true to ESEA Sisters’ core values, we aim to keep our events free and accessible to all. Please respect that and we appreciate your cooperation.

Any questions - do reach out via email.

What to bring with you and keep in mind

• As always, terrain may get muddy due to weather, so please ensure you have appropriate footwear that you won’t mind getting dirty, and waterproof layers of clothing – just in case.

• Please also ensure you bring a packed lunch, snacks, and water to stay nourished and hydrated, as well as a mat (preferably waterproof) to sit on.

How we keep our walks safe

• For each of our walks, we have routes mapped out with designated group leaders guiding the path ahead. We communicate via WhatsApp group chat to ensure the group is together and that everyone is okay.

• We do not share details of the route on Instagram for safety reasons. Further information of the route and where/when we meet will be shared directly with you closer to the date of the walk.

• By booking this event you agree to your contact details being shared with ESEA Sisters for organising purposes.

• At the beginning of our walk, we will be doing a short intro and check-in with the group, confirming the pace of the walk and frequency of breaks.

*Remember this event is for East and South East Asian (ESEA) women, trans, non-binary, and queer folks only.

*Photography and videos will be taken at this event. These may be used for future ESEA Sisters marketing, publicity, and fundraising, including but not limited to social media. We will be asking all attendees for their consent prior to the start of the walk.