"The Don is something that's going to last way beyond me – us – and that's comforting" ~ KINCA
Right to Thrive explores local people's connections to the River Don through a collection of generative interviews. In this series we encourage people to question extractive, human-centred views of nature in favour of recognising and celebrating its right to thrive.
KINCA: Kelham Island & Neespend Community Alliance's Yvonne and Rob spoke to us about the Don's industrial heritage and how we can build access, connection and understanding to the river.
Yvonne McMenemy and Rob McMenemy are members of Kelham Island & Neespend Community Alliance (KINCA), which exists to improve and develop those areas of the city with engagement from the community. Historically and to this day, the area is characterised by its deep association with the River Don. From their home in the city centre, Yvonne and Rob see the river every day.
Yvonne McMenemy and Rob McMenemy next to the River Don at Kelham Island.
Credit: Yvonne McMenemy
Thanks for accepting the invitation to talk to us. Why is it important for you to have a conversation about the River Don? Why did you say yes?
[Yvonne] Well, we moved to Sheffield six years ago now from a village in the countryside, but very much wanted to get back to having an urban experience. So we've become involved with KINCA and we do various projects for them, including the newsletter, but I'm also a trustee and secretary for the Upper Don Trail Trust, which has the ambition to have a walk following the Don right up from the city centre to Langsett [reservoir].
[Rob] I'm also involved in similar projects in the area. It's a big part of our life now. We live in the centre of the city and the river’s running right past us. So it's something that kind of touches us all the time.
[Yvonne] We see it every day!
What drew you specifically to activity related to the Don? What was it about the river?
[Yvonne] When we moved here, we ended up living on the river, in the riverside apartments. I think the view was that we’d moved from the countryside and therefore there would be no wildlife, no anything.
It was just joyful for us to watch the river every day and to see kingfishers in closer proximity than we'd ever seen in the countryside, and to watch the ebb and flow of the river. We were there during lockdown as well. We had a balcony overlooking the river, and we spent a lot of our time just looking at and watching it. It was always different, always changing.
[Rob] It became almost a companion. A ‘friend’ might be a bit strong, but something ever-present and changing all the time, and I think that was a surprise to both of us. We didn't appreciate its presence and the impact that it would have on us.
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