Restoring Our River: Insights from our evening with Thames21

We were delighted to recently host Thames21 for a deep dive into the health of the Thames and the vital work being done to protect it. For those who missed it, the session offered a fascinating look at how our local river connects to broader issues of environmental justice and community power. 

Here is a summary of what we learned and how you can get involved. 

More Than Just Clean-Ups 

While Thames21 started in the 90s as a river cleanup organisation, we learned that their work today goes much further. They are heavily involved in river restoration, working to improve habitats through natural interventions. 

• Nature-based solutions: They install "leaky dams" to reduce flood risk (mimicking the work of beavers) and plant reed beds that naturally filter water and restore riverbanks. 

• Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS): They champion green infrastructure that prevents flooding in concrete-heavy urban areas. 

• Education: Their programmes are often the first time local school students engage with the nature on their doorstep, particularly on the Isle of Dogs. 

• Advocacy: They hold regulators to account. A major success story is the ban on wet wipes, driven by data from their "Big Wet Wipe Survey," which counts tens of thousands of stray wipes across the foreshore. 

The Greenwich Context: Why We Are Vulnerable 

We learned that Greenwich faces specific challenges due to our geography. Because we are situated on a bend in the river, the water slows down here, causing the river to "dump" litter and pollution on our foreshore. 

This issue is compounded by industrial pollution; waste dropped further west often ends up with us. Furthermore, we heard that data from the Environment Agency or water companies isn't always reliable. When communities take charge and carry out their own surveys, it often reveals that the real situation is worse than reported. 

A New Vision for the Riverside 

This work is more timely than ever. The Royal Borough of Greenwich has recently released its scrutiny review, Rethinking the Riverside, which admits that our 14km stretch of riverfront—the longest in London—suffers from inconsistent maintenance, poor lighting, and fragmented ownership. 

Crucially, the report explicitly recognises local groups like Thames21 and EGRA as key partners in stewardship who are already advocating for the river. The Council is now recommending a new "Thames Path Design Vision" to standardise quality and boost biodiversity.  

With the path’s 30th anniversary approaching in 2026, there is a unique window of opportunity for residents to hold the Council to these new promises and push for the "green ribbon" of connected spaces they have proposed. 

Environmental Justice 

A key theme of the evening was Environmental Justice—the principle that everyone has the right to live in a safe and healthy environment. 

Thames21 highlighted that marginalised communities often bear the brunt of environmental burdens, such as poor water and air quality, heat stress, and increased flood risk. Even where green and blue spaces exist in these areas, they are often difficult to access or have fallen into disrepair. For example, in East London, much of the riverside infrastructure (like river stairs) has collapsed, limiting safe access to nature compared to West London. 

How You Can Get Involved 

The most empowering takeaway from the evening is that local people can drive change. Here is how you can help: 

• Join or Start a River Action Group: This is the best way to have an impact on our local stretch of the Thames. Thames21 helps people set these up, providing insurance and sharing best practice. 

• Become a Citizen Scientist: You can get involved in water quality testing to assess the impact of sewage treatment. By collecting independent data, we can better hold decision-makers to account. 

• Free Training: Thames21 offers free accredited training programmes and habitat surveys to help you become an empowered advocate for the river. 

• Advocate for Local Maintenance: We discussed the reed beds outside Enderby Wharf—a prime example of green infrastructure that needs clear maintenance responsibility (often falling between the Port of London Authority and the Council). 

The overarching message was clear: we don't just want tokenistic volunteering. We need real relationships with our river that stand the test of time. 

If you are interested in getting involved in a local River Action Group or joining future foreshore walks, please get in touch with us at EGRA.