Thames21 Tackles Thames Grot Spot

Thames21 is appealing for volunteers to help clean up a River Thames grot spot in the London Borough of Newham.

Thames21 monitor the Tidal Thames every quarter and have placed this stretch of Thames foreshore in its Top Five Most Littered Thames Beaches.

Charity spokesperson Leigh McAlea said, 'The magnificent River Thames is a familiar and much loved part of the local landscape but is marred by river rubbish which is exposed at low tide. Clean ups with local volunteers serve to improve the river by removing long-term litter benefiting both local people and wildlife habitats.'

Local Councillor Simon Tucker, Community Lead Councillor for Royal Docks will be lending a hand on the day and said, 'The environment is a very important issue and we should all play our part in looking after it. I look forward to seeing as many volunteers as possible on the day.'

The charity has more than ten-years of experience cleaning up the River Thames and provides all equipment for free.

Leigh McAlea added, 'Volunteers just need to turn up on the day and wear old warm clothes that they don't mind getting muddy.'

Thames21 provide practical solutions for communities wanting to improve and maintain their local stretches of river or canal. This could be a one-off clean up or a longer term project to reduce litter, improve wildlife habitats and bring a local stretch of river back to life.

Event details
Date: Saturday March 10 / 9:30am - 11:30
Location: Thames Foreshore, Barge House Road, North Woolwich
Meeting Time: 9:30
Event contact: Vic Richardson 07973 442 219 or email him.

Ends
Media enquiries Leigh McAlea at Thames21 020 7213 0166 / 07875 250 284

Notes to Editors:

1. Thames21 identified the five most littered beaches on the Tidal Thames at its quarterly monitoring between Erith and Teddington. They are based in Hammersmith, Poplar, Woolwich, Thamesmead, Rotherhithe
2. Thames21 is an environmental charity working with communities to clean and green London's waterways. In 2006, Thames21 worked with 4024 volunteers at 92 clean ups removing 300 tonnes of litter.
3. www.thames21.org.uk