Cleaner Thames Challenge 2008 Blog

LOCATION: Isle of Dogs, East London
DATES: 18-21 September 2008

Interested in volunteering at the Challenge? Click HERE to sign up.

THURSDAY 18 SEPTEMBER | DAY 1
9.00am - 12.00pm

An excellent start to the Challenge! Over 70 volunteers took part today, helping remove some of the litter from the Isle of Dogs.

Alongside numerous local volunteers, we had groups from Penguin, Legal Services Commission, Credit Suisse and Bain & Company. We also had BBC London pop down to find out what's going on and speak to a few of the volunteers.

A big thanks to Becky and the team from Feel Good Drinks for the cotton bags and drinks for all the volunteers. Read more about our partnership with them for the Cleaner Thames Challenge 2008 here.

We had a few interesting finds today including some old bullet shells from WWII, and volumes of plastic bags that are so commonly found along this stretch.

There's still plenty of work to be done on the stretch, however, and it's not too late to join in. The Challenge is running until Sunday. For more information about how to take part - click HERE.

See the BBC London report HERE.

FRIDAY 19 SEPTEMBER | DAY 2
9.30am - 12.30pm

Fantastic weather and lots of litter removed! We had over 90 volunteers today come and help out. Groups came from Credit Suisse, Environment Agency, Thames Water, Feel Good Drinks, and Michael Page International. A big thanks to all who gave up their time today.

Some more interesting finds including a few old bullets, a pair of pants, and hundreds and hundreds of plastic bags... A packet of cashew nuts from the early 80s was found too!

We also had Robin McCullum from ITV London pop down to film a report for the lunchtime news.

The Challenge is running until Sunday. For more information about how to take part - click HERE.

SATURDAY 20 SEPTEMBER | DAY 3
10.00am - 1.00pm

Day three of the Cleaner Thames Challenge, and superb weather!

More than 40 volunteers joined us today and got stuck in, removing the litter. A huge thanks to all who came along today.

One of the Port of London Authory Driftwood vessles joined us too to help clear the metals and larger items that have been collected over the past few days.

Seeing so much plastic litter on this site really makes you think about plastic bag usage, as many of the volunteers commented today.

The weather's set to be fine tomorrow too for the final day of the Challenge, so why not come down and join us from 10.30am - 1.30pm.

If you want to find out more and sign up click HERE.

SUNDAY 21 SEPTEMBER | DAY 4
10.30am - 1.30pm

The final day of the Cleaner Thames Challenge!

Almost 70 volunteers joined us today for the final of our four day Challenge at the Isle of Dogs, including a group from hotel Jumeirah.

Plenty of litter was removed too including lots of larger metals and countless smaller plastics.

A big thank you to all who took part today - and over the whole four day Challenge.

For more information about future clean-up events on London's waterways - check out our events page HERE.

Just have a look at the difference made to this site. The picture on the left was taken in May 2008, the picture on the right was taken on the Challenge weekend in September.