A WaterBlitz is a water sampling event that helps provide a snapshot of pollution issues across a river’s catchment area.
This event is for local people and citizen scientists to take water samples of points of interest to them across the Ravensbourne Catchment (which includes the Ravensbourne, Pool, Chaffinch Brook, The Beck, Quaggy, Kyd Brook) to identify ongoing pollution issues impacting the catchment’s water quality. This event will also be an important opportunity to sample areas in the catchment that generally have relatively good water quality to understand how poorer quality stretches of our rivers could perform throughout the catchment in the absence of pollution challenges.
Thames21 has once again joined forces with the Environment Agency and Rotary to call on volunteering, community and environmental groups to come forward and sign up to the Plasticblitz 2023 and take part in a mass clean-up of waste from water bodies between Sat 27th May to Sun 11th June 2023.
The Plasticblitz event has grown in numbers year on year, starting as a local trial event before expanding to cover the Thames region, and now as a first for the Plasticblitz, it is extending across the UK! This year we are aiming for the Plasticblitz to be bigger and better than ever, and we would love your support!
Participating groups will also be asked to collect data on the types of plastic pollution they find during their events, allowing us to build an evidence base on the extent to which plastic and other materials are threatening our rivers. This data will feed into the EU wide Preventing Plastic Pollution project. There are both bank-based and boat/canoe/paddle-based methods available, with specific Environment Agency teams tackling assets such as weirs, locks and trash screens.
Please note, as Plasticblitz events are self-led, participating groups must risk assess their own events and be covered by public liability insurance.
Want to help create a buzz about the health of the Thames? Help Thames21 spread the word about what we are doing on the Thames, get people involved, and get people excited about taking action to help clean up and monitor the Thames by becoming a Thames River Watch ambassador. As a Thames ambassador, you will support our events by welcoming volunteers, chatting to locals, and answering questions about Thames21. Our events are good at generating curiosity, so we want to explain what we are doing and get people to join in.
This day-long training session will provide non-experts with the knowledge and tools to become a Thames River Watch ambassador. Click here to find out more about the Thames River Watch project.
The session will include:
An introduction to Thames River Watch
The story of London’s River
The tidal foreshore environment
Water quality on the Thames (including how to monitor it)
Wildlife in the river
Ways for the public to get involved
The session involves indoor learning and a practical session on the foreshore.
Please note: if this is your first training session with Thames21, please sign up here.
If you have already registered for a training session with Thames21, you can sign onto this one by clicking here.
If you are interested in other training opportunities offered by Thames21 please sign up to receive our Training Bulletin
Date and time: June 26 Time 10:30 am – 4:30 pm Venue: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
Contact Abbi Kent Phone: 07826913307 Email: abbi.kent@thames21.org.uk
Do you cherish rivers and enjoy exploring them? Do you love the wildlife that roams our countryside? Do you want to learn about what’s being done to protect London’s life-giving rivers and how you can help?
Then join us for the third annual London Rivers Week, running from Saturday June 23 to Sunday July 1. This year’s theme is Valuing Water, and our partners are putting on a fascinating list of free activities, with something for all the family – from walks and talks and a kayak event to demonstrations and even a film premiere.
You won’t want to miss our launch event on Sunday 24th June, at Ladywell Fields from 12pm to 3pm.
You’ll be able to become a dragonfly detective, explore what’s in the water through river dipping and make discoveries through riverfly monitoring.
The event will be a showcase of citizen science programmes by a range of partners.
Find out, for example, how Thames21 volunteers collect data about the types of plastic found in the Thames, or how water quality is tested by robot boats. There are 600km of waterways in the capital. That’s the same as the distance between Brighton and Edinburgh.
And during the week, you’ll have the chance to learn about the issues that affect many of them.
Do you fancy getting to know your local stretch of river better by clearing litter? Or taking over the invasive species which also choke our rivers? We’ve also got events like that, which will help you make a difference to these lifebloods for wildlife.
Otters, trout, bats, kingfishers and eels all use London rivers – but increasingly they need the public’s help to survive and thrive, in the face of plastic pollution, sewage and the impacts of climate change.
London’s rivers are often peaceful, natural places, where we can escape city life. They are havens where we can relax by the water, watch swans nesting or if we’re lucky, spot a flash of blue as one of Britain’s most beautiful birds, a kingfisher, speeds across the water.
If you can’t wait, whet your appetite by reading case studies about 23 restoration projects which include Ladywell Fields, giving you a world of nature to explore at places that have been rewilded in recent years.
Thame 21’s foundational course, called Leading a aterway Clean Up, is for people interested in learning more about waterways and why they are important. The course contains everything you need to know to plan and run safe, effective and enjoyable waterway improvement events.
There is no obligation to actually run events once you have taken the course. Some take it simply for the learning experience. But many do go on to assist our officers with Thames21-led events, and others lead events on their own with our support. Their trainees have engaged in some exciting work over the years!
course open to all, including those who may not have any prior experience with environmental issues or with working around water. Thames 21 combines classroom sessions with volunteering so that you get the best possible learning experience. They also ask you to complete a small amount of written work. Our course is certified by ncfe*, the national accrediting organisation and you will receive your ncfecertificate upon completion. Having ncfe accreditation assures us that the content of our training is of a high standard and thoroughly prepares trainees to support and lead events on their own with confidence.
When do sessions take place?
Thames 21 schedules sessions throughout the year in east, west and central London. Typically sessions are on weekends but there are some weekday sessions as well. Trainees must take Day 1 before Day 2 but do not need to take them in the same series. For example, you can take the Day 1 session offered in April and then, because of other commitments, not take Day 2 until July. Or September. Sessions are meant to be flexible.
New Sessions have been scheduled for 2018! (all sessions 10am – 3pm)
DAY 1 SESSIONS:
Sat 14th Apr 2018, Dorset Wharf Community Hall, Fulham W6 9HN
Sat 9th June 2018, The Ragged School Museum, Mile End E3 4RR
DAY 2 SESSIONS:
Tues 6th Mar 2018, Thames21 Offices at Walbrook Wharf, City of London EC4R 3TD
Sat 28th Apr, Dorset Wharf Community Hall, Fulham W6 9HN
Sat 16th June 2018, The Ragged School Museum, Mile End E3 4RR
See the bottom of this page for details on how to register for sessions.
They also deliver our Leading a Waterway Cleanup course to local groups who wish to be trained together. To schedule something for your group, please arrange for bespoke sessions with the Training Officer by emailing Thames 21.
The training is currently free for volunteers, with a Pricing Structure in place for volunteer managers and corporate groups. Please contact the Training Officer for more information
To Register:
You must complete an online Registration Formbefore you can take any trainings with Thames21.
Our first 3 Rivers Clean Up planning session will be taking place later this week. We hope that by the end o it we will have confirmed the dates for this year’s festival. We hope that will be able to overlap with London Rivers Week. This will be the 10th year that we have been running this project so look our for some fun anniversary events and celebrations.
The 3RiversCleanUp is a three-week long intensive annual volunteer campaign to improve the rivers Ravensbourne, Pool and Quaggy in South East London.
Take your family, your friends or just yourself on an urban wilderness adventure this summer and discover the rivers and the nature they support. Join others in removing harmful rubbish and invasive plant species so as to improve the habitats for both flowers and animals. Learn about nature, about the quality of water and why it’s important and also join in with other associated events such as wildlife habitat management, pond dipping and nature walks, most of which will be suitable for all ages. All events are FREE.
If you would like to get involved have a look at the events calendar over the coming months to find out details of event locations and contact details of the event organisers. Events will start to be populated once dates have been finalised. If you would like a bespoke event for your company, please free to contact us and we will do our best to arrange something.
Events are free but some require pre-booking. If there is heavy rain an event may be cancelled at short notice due to the risk of flash flooding. Please check with the event organiser if the weather is bad.
Thames 21 foundational course, called Leading a Waterway Clean Up, is for people interested in learning more about waterways and why they are important. The course contains everything you need to know to plan and run safe, effective and enjoyable waterway improvement events.
There is no obligation to actually run events once you have taken the course. Some take it simply for the learning experience. But many do go on to assist our officers with Thames21-led events, and others lead events on their own with our support. Their trainees have engaged in some exciting work over the years!
course open to all, including those who may not have any prior experience with environmental issues or with working around water. We combine classroom sessions with volunteering so that you get the best possible learning experience. We also ask you to complete a small amount of written work. Our course is certified by ncfe*, the national accrediting organisation and you will receive your ncfecertificate upon completion. Having ncfe accreditation assures us that the content of our training is of a high standard and thoroughly prepares trainees to support and lead events on their own with confidence.
When do sessions take place?
We schedule sessions throughout the year in east, west and central London. Typically sessions are on weekends but there are some weekday sessions as well. Trainees must take Day 1 before Day 2 but do not need to take them in the same series. For example, you can take the Day 1 session offered in April and then, because of other commitments, not take Day 2 until July. Or September. Sessions are meant to be flexible.
See the bottom of this page for details on how to register for sessions.
We also deliver our Leading a Waterway Cleanup course to local groups who wish to be trained together. To schedule something for your group, please arrange for bespoke sessions by the Training Officer .
The event support team is a team of volunteers who assist our project officers to run safe, effective, and fun events. Become a badged group leader: With a Thames21 badge, Thames21 will support you running your own events.
How much does it cost?
The training is currently free for volunteers, with a Pricing Structure in place for volunteer managers and corporate groups. Please contact the Training Officer for more information
To Register:
You must complete an online Registration Formbefore you can take any trainings with Thames21.
Join Thames 21 for some fun clean up in the River Pool
Linear Park (Catford)
River Pool Conservation Days (Every Wednesday)
• Volunteer and discover the River Pool through Linear Park, Catford.
• Help shed more light on the river and improve its bio-diversity for plants and animals
• Maintain and improve the footpath along the river
• Build flow deflectors and berms in the river channel to increase flow diversity
• Other tasks include scrub removal, tree pruning and litter clearance
• All welcome, all equipment provided, just wear old clothes and bring lots of enthusiasm.
Every Wednesday, 10-3pm, stay as long as you like.
Tea provided all day
Meet 9.30 at Winsford Road Bridge on the Waterlink Way.
For more information on upcoming events please contact Vic Richardson
07973 442219
The April-June 2017 RBSM programme is now available! There are plenty of ways to get involved. Please note that this programme includes sessions for 3 Rivers Clean Up and that booking is essential for these events. they are great fun in the sun though – so check them out!
Rivers and People 