Category: Lewisham Rivers

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The CPRE London photo competition returns for 2021, with cash prizes and tickets to top London attractions on offer to the photographer who best captures this year’s theme of ‘Picture Blue London’.

We are launching our annual photography competition in celebration of London Rivers Week which ran from 23-31 October 2021. CPRE London is delighted to be working with Thames21, the Environment Agency, ZSL London Zoo, the London Aquarium and others to celebrate London’s rivers and waterways.

Capture London’s waterscapes

Judges will be looking for uplifting images that capture the beauty and variety of the London’s waterscapes – whether that be landscape, wildlife, rivers, canals, a piece of history, places that heal or replenish or people enjoying London’s wet outdoor spaces. We challenge you to grab your camera or phone, explore the watery side of the capital and capture London’s countryside at its very best. We want to see it all!

This year we welcome your interpretation of three categories that represent the city’s key environmental challenges and opportunities: climate change, access to nature, and health and wellbeing. All entries should fall within one category and a winner will be chosen from each.

The photographs will be judged by an impressive line-up of key figures in London’s photography and environmental community including Shirley Rodrigues (Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, Greater London Authority), Dave Webb (Environment Agency) and Peter Coles (professional photographer and urban ecologist).

All our winners and finalists will be showcased on our website, featured in the next edition of our Green London newsletter and on our social media channels.

Enter the competition

Competition entry is free, and entrants can enter up to three photographs, one in each category – climate change, access to nature, and health and wellbeing.

The winning entries will receive a cash prize of £100, free membership to CPRE London for a year and tickets to the London Aquarium, plus a cuddly toy!  One overall winner will also receive a free family ticket to ZSL London Zoo.

Entries close on 26 November 2021. To enter please read the webpage and terms and conditions (PDF 138 KB).

London Rivers Week is a partnership campaign run through London Rivers Restoration Group, a sub-group of the Catchment Partnerships in London. It is sponsored by Thames Water.

(with thanks to Thames 21 for the information)

London Rivers Week is a week-long annual campaign inspiring the public to celebrate London’s rivers and the projects taking place to rewild and renaturalise them and connecting them with their local communities.

The campaign was launched by the London Rivers Restoration Group in 2016 on behalf of the Catchment Partnerships in London (CPiL) to highlight river restorations.  Between 2008 and 2017 a total of 23.5km (14.6 miles) of rivers have been restored. 

About the London Rivers Restoration Group

The purpose of the London Rivers Restoration Group, a sub-group of CPiL, is to promote and report on the delivery of river restoration and enhancement projects in support of the Catchment-based Approach to delivering Water Framework Directive objectives across London.

Its specific objective is to achieve the following aspirations set out in the London Rivers Action Plan (LRAP):

1. Improve flood management using more natural processes
2. Reduce the likely negative impacts of climate change
3. Reconnect people to the natural environment through urban regeneration
4. Gain better access for recreation and improved well-being
5. Enhance habitats for wildlife

The London Rivers Restoration Group includes the Environment Agency, Thames21, the Greater London Authority, the South East Rivers Trust, London Wildlife Trust, ZSL, the Thames Estuary Partnership, CPRE London and Thames Water.

About the Catchment Partnerships in London (CPiL) Group

The purpose of CPiL is to support 12 different Catchment Partnerships within Greater London to share lessons, experiences, best practice and to help achieve a coordinated approach to delivering the objectives of the Water Framework Directive.

CPiL is not a Steering Group for the Catchment Partnerships; instead it supports and facilitates shared action, decision making and communication for the Catchment-based Approach in London.

Catchment Partnerships are groups of organisations working in different geographical locations to improve water quality.

London Rivers Week 2021

Thames 21 London Rivers Week events

For those of you who have spent time with me and other volunteer groups in activities such as The 3 Rivers Clean Up clearing himalayan balsam know what great fun it is. You may wonder, however if it is all worthwhile? Of course we know it is because in Lewisham we have seen a huge reduction in the amount of HB in the years that we have been running the 3 Rivers Clean Up and other similar sessions.

The Tweed Invasives Project has been tackling invasive plant species in and around the River Tweed and its tributaries since 2002, when Giant Hogweed was identified as one of the biggest threats to the River.  Since then, they have added Japanese knotweed and Himalayan Balsam to their list of invasives. With all this fantastic experience, they have produced a ‘best practice’ manual, The Tweed Invasives Project: 18 Years of Catchment-wide Control, which gives a detailed guide to delivering a long-term, catchment-scale invasives control programme.

It is a fantastic document highlighting all the different ways in which you can control these species. For those of you that only want to read about Himalayan balsam, you will find this from p24 onwards.

Due to the most recent advice from the UK Government and from Lewisham Council, we have decided to cancel the Rivers and People volunteering sessions and until further notice. I appreciate that you may be disappointed by this news, but in light of the current advice this we feel this is the best course of action. I will of course update you as advice changes.

Please let anyone know that you see who may not see this message

We look forward to seeing you again soon.

The Friends of Brookmill Park are putting on a series of really interesting talks on a number of environmental areas (Birds/Trees/ Flood mitigation etc).

Come along to informative talks on topics of local interest by outstanding speakers, kindly hosted by our friendly local – The Brookmill Pub.

When: Sunday evenings 6.30 for 6.45 start, finish 8.00
Tickets: £5.00 on the door
Location: The Brookmill Pub, 65 Cranbrook Road, SE8 4EJ

Please note talks take place in the upstairs room. Talks audio-recorded for anyone unable to use the stairs.
Proceeds go towards activities in the park.

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DATES: Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 October and Saturday 2 November 

Starting at the Discovery Centre and taking place in and around the historic Deptford Creek, this is a once in a lifetime chance to explore the river alongside the Victorian treasure hunters known as the Toshers.  Waders provided!

This is a family activity so grown-ups come along and join in the fun with your children. Participants need to be reasonably fit as you will be walking on the bed of a wild river. We provide waders, a waterproof and a walking stick and suggest you wear old clothes. Please note this event is for children over the age of 8. Children under the age of 14 will need to be accompanied by an adult.Performance will last approximately 1 hour 15 minutes and will involving going into Deptford Creek.
Young children are welcome to watch from the footbridge but will need to be accompanied by an adult.

For more information visit the Creekside Discovery website

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