Fresh air and Victorian tombs: the launch of Walk with Kairos
It was a sunny Saturday in Peckham that found fourteen people – and one dog – from Kairos Community Trust come together for the first Walk with Kairos. This event marked the beginning of our new series of monthly community walks, writes Adrianna Jones.
The Walk with Kairos group is centred on fitness and connection: connection with yourself, with others, with the world around you. On 13th April, the group gathered for hot drinks and biscuits before setting off on Section 11 of the Green Chain Walk, a picturesque 5.9 mile journey from Peckham/Nunhead to Crystal Palace.
This is a route rich in natural beauty and historical interest. Along the way, we admired the Victorian tombs of Nunhead Cemetery; the breathtaking view of London from One Tree Hill; the muddy calm of Sydenham Hill Wood, where it is possible to feel entirely detached from South London’s urban sprawl. A well-deserved lunchbreak in the Horniman Museum gardens gave us the perfect opportunity to soak up the spring sunshine while getting to know each other.
Meeting and connecting with others is at the heart of Walk with Kairos. As we walked, we shared experiences while enjoying the nature surrounding us, deepening a real sense of community. One group member captured the spirit perfectly, calling it “a brilliant chance to meet with other people in recovery” and celebrating the opportunity to “challenge my physical fitness in a fun and caring environment”.
We finished our walk at Crystal Palace Park, near the Victorian sphinxes that guard the entrance to the former Crystal Palace. These are among the last original structures remaining on the site, following the fire of 1936. The day ended with a tremendous sense of accomplishment and togetherness and, as the sun set and the group headed home for bubble baths and rest, the excitement was already building for the next adventure.
Thank you to all those who organised the day, and to everyone who took part and helped make it such a brilliant experience.
The next Walk with Kairos will be in central London on Saturday, 11th May and is open to all members of Kairos Community Trust, past and present. Full details will be announced shortly.