Reconnect with your local river – join a river litter pick near you!

22 February 2016: Residents across London and the wider area are encouraged to join one of the biggest national clean up campaigns on the weekends of February 27 – 28 and March 4-6, with an extra event just added on March 12.

It is no secret that UK rivers suffer from pollution but to limit the damage this pollution can cause to wildlife, Thames21, an urban rivers charity, is challenging the community to join them in their quest to clean up our rivers. Thames21 is organising a number of litter pick events to improve the health of the waterways by using community support to bring about change.

FIND A THAMES21 ‘CLEAN FOR THE QUEEN’ EVENT NEAR YOU:

Grays Beach, Thurrock – February 27 from 10am – 1pm

All equipment provided. Meet at Argent Street by Thurrock Yacht Club.

www.thames21.org.uk/event/clean-for-the-queen-grays-beach-thurrock/

 

Cranford Park, Hillingdon – February 27 from 11am – 1.30pm

All equipment provided. Meet at park’s information centre.

www.thames21.org.uk/event/tall-tales-and-trash-cranford-park-hillingdon-3/

 

Brent Reservoir at Welsh Harp, Brent – February 28 from 10am – 1pm

All equipment provided. Meet at the Phoenix Canoe Club on Cool Oak Lane NW9 7ND.

www.thames21.org.uk/event/welsh-harpbrent-reservoir-cleanup-3/

 

Waterside Gardens, Crayford – March 4 from 10.30am – 1.30pm

All equipment provided. The Parade, Waterside Gardens, Crayford, DA1 4JA

www.thames21.org.uk/event/clean-for-the-queen-with-thames21-at-crayford-bexley-river-cray-project/

 

Pitshanger Park, Ealing – March 5 from 11am – 3pm

All equipment provided. Meet at the bandstand by the Will to Win Café, adjacent to the tennis courts.

www.thames21.org.uk/event/clean-for-the-queen-pitshanger-park-ealing/

 

Gallions Reach, Newham – March 5 from 2pm – 4pm

All equipment provided. Meet at gate where Barge House Road and Fishguard Way meet

www.thames21.org.uk/event/clean-for-the-queen-gallions-reach-newham/

 

Windsor Open Space, Barnet – March 6 from 11am – 3pm

All equipment provided. Meet at turning circle at the bottom of Windsor Road, Barnet

www.thames21.org.uk/event/clean-for-the-queen-at-windsor-open-space/

 

 Manor Park, Lewisham – March 12 from 11am – 2pm

All equipment provided. Meet at Manor Park,Lewisham, London, SE13 5HB,

www.thames21.org.uk/event/thames21-the-big-community-clean-up-manor-park-se13/ 

 

“Rivers are open access for everyone to enjoy and that means everyone can help improve its health,” said Emma Harrington, Development Manager at Thames21. “Today much of the litter we see is plastic and given that plastic takes at least 400 years to break down and can cause significant damage to animals, these clean ups are crucial to doing something good for the health of our rivers, our oceans and the wildlife they support, which incidentally, includes us humans.”

Thames21 is all about putting rivers at the heart of community life.

Emma Harrington added: “We believe that to create a sustainable future for our waterways, we must empower people to feel connected to their local river and this is also why events like this are so hugely important.”

 

ENDS

Thames21 is an environmental charity (registered number 1103997) which aims to improve London’s rivers, canals and ponds through community engagement

www.thames21.org.uk