World Oceans Day on the Thames

Family-friendly river activities to celebrate
marine conservation around the world

Saturday, June 8, 2013
Queen Caroline’s Draw Dock, Hammersmith

People of all ages are invited to join Thames21, Global Oceans and Sea Urchins magazine

for a unique fun-filled day on the Thames foreshore to celebrated World Oceans Day.

The two charities and the educational children’s marine magazine are teaming up for the first time to encourage young people to care for their environment and to understand first-hand the link between rivers and oceans.

Volunteers will work to clear the plastic litter that accumulates at this section of the river to stop it flowing out to sea, while children can take part in a range of river-related activities. The activities will focus on learning first-hand about London’s iconic river and the wildlife it supports with activities such as mini raft building, river dipping, litter collection races and pebble painting.

Thames21’s West London Coordinator Judith Ressler said: “The River Thames is a wonderful resource for London families and a great way to connect children to nature and water in our busy city. We find children and young people respond very positively to this practical environmental learning and leave wanting to come back again and again.”

Global Ocean’s Eco-Arts Director, Fatemah Abidi, said “World Ocean’s Day is a perfect excuse to get out and get involved in cleaning up our vital rivers and oceans. The River Thames is the busiest river in the UK, with everything its wide tidal range collects flowing directly to the North Sea and beyond. By tackling litter in Hammersmith, Londoners really can make a difference to the global flow of litter. We are really excited to be able to collaborate with two wonderful organizations on this global issue.”

World Oceans Day is a celebration of the huge expanse of water that connects all people and places and a global campaign to protect our precious seas and the millions of people and wildlife that depend on them.

Plastic litter is a global problem and in UK, beach litter is at the highest levels since records began, according to Marine Conservation Society figures. Much of the litter which swamps our oceans and washes up on beaches originates from our rivers.

All visitors will receive a copy of the latest children’s marine education Sea Urchins magazine.

Event Details

Saturday June 8th Hammersmith,
London
9.30am – 12pm  Hammersmith –  Thames Path, Queen Caroline’s Draw Dock – W6 9XF

To register, please contact Judith Ressler on judith.ressler@thames21.org.uk All equipment provided and no experience necessary. Under 16s should be accompanied by an adult and children should bring their own Wellington boots.

Ends 

For further information, please contact Emily Braham emily.braham@thames21.org.uk/ 020 7213 0166

Notes to editors

  • Engaging with young people is vital for sustainable environmental improvement. It provides an opportunity to change attitudes and encourage positive behaviour at an early age. Helping teachers to use the local environment in their teaching enables students to learn from relevant and immediate examples of environmental problems and solutions. Thames21 aims to develop lasting connections between schools and their local environment through our education activities
  • Global Ocean is a London-based marine conservation charity (registered number 1112899) established in 2006. We focus on informing the public about plastic pollution and marine debris and teaching children about the importance of a healthy ocean. Our objective is to heighten public awareness about the plight of the seas and to change the social attitude towards marine conservation. Find out more at www.globalocean.org.uk
  • Follow Global Ocean on Twitter @GlobalOcean1 and on facebook.com/globalocean
  • Contact Global Ocean directly at info@globalocean.org.uk
  • Sea Urchins is a children’s marine magazine designed to inspire and inform young people about the amazing world of oceans and the need to protect them
  • http://www.seaurchinsmag.com/ @Sea_Urchinsmag  www.facebook.com/SeaUrchinsMag

All visitors will receive the new issue of Sea Urchins magazine