Lockdown River Resources

Published

We know how much you love your rivers, and how much you’re missing them during lockdown. We’ve been regularly sharing inspiring river-related resources on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, as well as through our e-newsletters, and our YouTube channel, but we wanted to compile them all in one place.

Here are all the podcasts, documentaries and music we’ve shared so far, grouped into different themes for if you’re keen to take action, relax, learn or be inspired.

Enjoy!

 

RIVER ACTION

Activities
1) Thames Estuary seal haul-out project – Help conservation scientists to understand how seals use a popular haul-out site in the Thames Estuary by IDing images
2) ispotnature – Upload your observations of wildlife, help others identify theirs, and share and discuss what you’ve seen
3) Opal’s National Citizen Science Surveys – Take part in surveys exploring soil, trees, air and water quality, invertebrates, and the importance of habitats for wildlife
4) Otter project – Monitor otter activity in Hampshire to better understand their movements and behaviour
5) Garden birdwatch – Keep a list of the different birds that you see in your garden over the course of a week
6) Canal River Trust wildlife sounds quiz – See if you can identify some unusual sounds made by different species of wildlife in the UK
7) Interactive soundmap of London’s waterways – Click on a place name to hear its sounds and read about the recording

RIVER LEARNING

Podcasts
1) Rivers Trust: ‘Rambling about Rivers’ – Discussion of all things river-related, from the impact of climate change to river health
2) Global Goal Cast – Podcasts related to Sustainable Development Goal themes
3) Circle of Blue – Features journalists and scientists providing information about the world’s resource crises, focusing on water and its relationships to food, energy, and health
4) BBC The Forum – Discussion of the role of rivers in human history and whether they matter less today
5) Talk of the Thames – Thames Estuary Partnership – Celebrating London Rivers Week 2020, discussion of the main messages of London Rivers Week 2020: habitat restoration and green infrastructure, health and wellbeing, and the successful return of species into the estuary

Children’s Learning and Activities
1) Learn how to build a tiny twig raft. All you’ll need are scissors, string and natural materials like twigs, leaves or feathers!
2) Creekside centre has lots of activities you can do at home with different topics each week. Our favourite is Topic 4 – river features
3) Learn how to make a leaf animal using natural materials you can collect from your garden or local park
4) Puzzles related to learning where you can paddle, involving picture match-ups and wordsearches
5) Take a virtual look at spring wildflowers around Deptford
6) Learn all about pond habitats on BBC Bitesize (for KS1 children)
7) BBC Bitesize resources about rivers for KS2
8) BBC Bitesize resources about rivers for KS3

RIVER INSPIRATION

Documentaries
Four incredible films about rivers in Europe and the activists fighting to protect them.

Videos
Restoring the river Brent – a beautiful video about the history of the river Brent and the rewilding work we’re doing to help bring it back to life

Animal Webcams
Osprey in Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve
Birds at Langford Lakes
Birds at Brownsea Lagoon
Jellyfish at Monterey Bay Aquarium
Puffins on Seal Island, Maine
Brown bears at Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park, Alaska
Cranes at Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary in Nebraska
Tropical Reef Aquarium in California
Kelp forest in Anacapa Island – Channel Islands, California
Underwater salmon in Katmai National Park, Alaska
Osprey nest at the Loch of the Lowes, Scotland
Sea otters at Monterey Bay Aquarium

Music
Thames21 river-related Spotify playlist

Virtual Tours
Thames Estuary Partnership Tour of the Thames