Thames21 Limited

Thames21 is an environmental charity that works with communities to build climate resilience through the restoration of rivers and wetlands.

Discover your local wetland in Northbrook Park, Lewisham. Following the exciting wetlands and stream restoration at Northbrook Park delivered by Lewisham Council and Glendale, environmental charity Thames21 is hosting a series of volunteering sessions and free, family-friendly events by the wetlands. This project supports the local community’s vision for the Grove Park area, including the creation of the Railway Children Urban National Park, a unique green space celebrating nature, heritage, and community. Thames21 free events:<ul><li>The practical volunteering days will focus on hands on habitat maintenance to help maintain the wetlands.</li><li>Family-friendly events will encourage people of all ages to spend time by the wetlands enjoying free activities provided by Thames21. These will take place on a Saturday and will be advertised on <a href="https://linktr.ee/Thames21_RavensbourneCatchment" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://linktr.ee/Thames21_RavensbourneCatchment</a>.</li></ul> Read on to book your space at our practical volunteering days: When: Taking place on the third Friday on the month, between 10am-3pm.Who: Hosted by Thames21. Sessions may be co hosted by Lewisham Council and Glendale teams.What: Every session is different and that’s what makes it exciting! From habitat maintenance and deepening ponds to litter picking and everything in between, you’ll get hands-on experience helping nature thrive. Whether you're clearing overgrown vegetation, digging to improve water flow, or simply tidying up the area, each visit brings new tasks and new ways to make a difference.Experience: No experience needed, just enthusiasm and a love for the outdoors.Age: These sessions are designed for 18 years and above. Come ready to get stuck in and make a real difference to this beautiful green &amp; blue space! Where to meet:Northbrook Park, Baring Road, London SE12 0JSWetlands are next to the MUGA/Basketball area, diagonally opposite the playground.What 3 Words ///doors.frog.patrol What to Bring:Dress for the weather and the task – long trousers and sleeves are advisable as there are nettles and brambles.Please bring a packed lunch and plenty of fluids.We will bring tea/coffee, bananas and biscuits.We will provide all other equipment, including wellies, needed for the event. There are no toilets in the park so please bear this in mind before you leave home. The nearest community toilets are at the Ringway Centre. We will do our best to make this event as accessible as possible. If you have any questions please email Thames21 Engagement Officer and session lead Catriona at T21Ravensbourne@thames21.org.uk Find out about Thames21 work in nearby Chinbook Meadows: <a href="www.thames21.org.uk/improving-rivers/chinbrook-community-suds-healthy-wetlands-challenge/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.thames21.org.uk/improving-rivers/chinbrook-community-suds-healthy-wetlands-challenge/</a>Learn more about wetlands with WWT: <a href="https://app.plinth.org.uk/www.wwt.org.uk/our-work/why-wetlands" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.wwt.org.uk/our-work/why-wetlands</a>&nbsp;This is an event designed for the community to engage the local public with the river and not for corporates. If you are interested in a bespoke corporate volunteer day. Please visit our website&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thames21.org.uk/get-involved-2/corporateteamdays/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.thames21.org.uk/get-involved-2/corporateteamdays/</a>

Northbrook Park Wetlands: Practical Volunteering with Thames21

Northbrook Park is a public park located on Baring Road south of Lee Green and north of Grove Park in the London Borough of Lewisham, Facilities include:<ul><li>a play area</li><li>the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/115728568455197/about/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 130, 153);">Northbrook Park Community Group</a></li><li>wetlands </li></ul>

Northbrook Park Wetlands 

Please provide your shoe size(s) for wellies. Please note our wellies are slightly bigger than an average shoe size.

Come and join us for a relaxing historic sunset walk followed by (free) hot soup. We will walk along the Isle of Dogs foreshore from Poplar Rowing Club to Newcastle Draw Dock to enjoy the views at dusk, finishing the evening with hot soup at Christ Church, Isle of Dogs. Father Tom Pyke will be leading the walk, providing us with interesting historical facts about the local area. This event will take place around sunset and may involve challenging walking conditions as a result so may not be suitable for people with walking or sight impairments. Suitable footwear (wellies) will be provided. Please supply your sizes at the registration page. This walk is in collaboration with Christ Church, Isle of Dogs. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact samantha.dhedhi@thames21.org.uk

Poplar Rowing Club 

Drop in and discover what’s happening on the Gores Brook Where to meet:Gores Brook Park - RM9 6LD (What 3 words: itself.bunch.manliness)Nearest tube - Dagenham Heathway Curious about the changes happening in your local river? Join Charlie from the Thames 21 River Restoration team to discover the exciting plans to revive the Gores Brook and learn how you can be part of the journey. This session is all about bringing people together to care for the Gores Brook, learn what restoration work is happening over winter, and finish off with a fun community litter pick and water quality testing! Whether you’ve got 10 minutes or an hour, we’d love to see you! Look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible! Charlie

Gores Brook Park 

Join us to bring the River Beck back to life! The volunteer days will be held on sporadic Wednesdays from 11-3pm throughout the winter season. The project aims to revive the River Beck through Harvington Woods. Activities include installing dead hedging to prevent sedimentation of the river and manage access, litter picking in the stream and surrounding space and installing deflectors in the channel to improve the health of the river Where to meet:Manor Way - BR3 3LW (What 3 Words: turned.flows.lonely)Nearest tube - Beckenham Junction What to Bring:Dress for the weather and the task – long trousers and sleeves are advisable as there are nettles and brambles.Please bring a packed lunch and plenty of fluids.We will bring tea/coffee and biscuits.We will provide all other equipment (including wellies) needed for the event and we look forward to welcoming you! Email charlie.southard@thames21.org.uk if you have any questions.Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please make sure you have weather appropriate clothing for the day.Please get in touch if you have any questions about accessibility. We will do our best to make this event as accessible as possible. Please note:&nbsp;A reasonable level of physical fitness is required for this event due to the nature of the tasks involved. While it's nothing too strenuous, activities will include lifting and pulling. Additionally, the walk from the meeting point to the project site takes approximately 5 minutes.&nbsp;This is an event designed for the community to engage the local public with the river and not for corporates. If you are interested in a bespoke corporate volunteer day. Please visit our website&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thames21.org.uk/get-involved-2/corporateteamdays/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: inherit;">https://www.thames21.org.uk/get-involved-2/corporateteamdays/</a>

Woodland in Bromley, managed by idverde. This woodland is part of the River Beck Project

Harvington Wood

Join us to bring the Gores Brook back to life! A total of 6 fun and interactive volunteer events will be held throughout the winter season to clean up the Gores Brook and restore it to its former glory. Activities include litter picking and invasive species removal Where to meet:Gores Brook Park (north end - off Hedgemans Road) – What 3 Words: strain.giving.clownNearest tube – Dagenham Heathway What to Bring:Dress for the weather and the task – long trousers and sleeves are advisable as there are nettles and brambles.Please bring a packed lunch and plenty of fluids.We will bring tea/coffee and biscuits.We will provide all other equipment (including wellies) needed for the event and we look forward to welcoming you! Email charlie.southard@thames21.org.uk if you have any questions.Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please make sure you have weather appropriate clothing for the day.Please get in touch if you have any questions about accessibility. We will do our best to make this event as accessible as possible.&nbsp;This is an event designed for the community to engage the local public with the river and not for corporates. If you are interested in a bespoke corporate volunteer day. Please visit our website&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thames21.org.uk/get-involved-2/corporateteamdays/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.thames21.org.uk/get-involved-2/corporateteamdays/</a>

Join us for an inspiring morning celebrating one year of citizen science in the Cherwell &amp; Ray catchment! We’ll share the results of a year’s river and stream testing, highlighting what our incredible volunteers have achieved and learned along the way. This is also a chance to say a big thank you to everyone who’s helped protect our waterways. I’ll be offering practical advice and top tips on how to use the planning system to push for upgrades to sewage treatment works — empowering communities to make real change for cleaner, healthier rivers. 🌊✨ Snacks and refreshments will be provided, so come along, learn, and connect with others passionate about our rivers.

Cherwell & Ray water quality report & action 2025

Waitrose Community Room, Banbury

Join us for a community gathering to share and discuss the results of nine months of citizen science water quality testing across the Ock catchment and a stretch of the Thames. Local volunteers have been sampling rivers and streams every month, building a detailed picture of where our waters are healthy and where they are under threat. At this event, we’ll present the findings, celebrate the work of our community scientists, and bring together local people, the water company, government representatives and the Environment Agency to talk about what needs to happen next. Together, we’ll explore how we can take action for cleaner, healthier rivers for wildlife and for our communities. Tea, coffee and light refreshments will be available. How to get thereUnit25 is conveniently located in the centre of Abingdon, in Bury Street shopping centre.Many buses serve the town centre, including the X1, X15 and 35 from Oxford, and the 33 from Didcot and Wallingford.There are multiple car parks near Abingdon town centre. This event is run by environmental charity Thames21, part of the Ock catchment partnership, which includes the Freshwater Habitats Trust and the Letcombe Brook Project, along with many others. Together, we are working for healther rivers and streams across the Ock catchment and the Thames from Oxford to Dorchester. Find out more about the Ock catchment partnership, and if it covers your local river, stream or pond here: <a href="https://storymaps.arcgis.com/collections/39f9ae144e2d49339c7e34cb9b1fbec5?item=1" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Ock Catchment Plan.</a>

The Health of Our Rivers: Evidence from the Ock, Thames, and Tributaries

Unit25 Abingdon

Thanks for booking this volunteer day! I will send you an email the week before with more details.

Join us for our Action for Silk Stream monthly volunteering days. They will be held on the last Thursday of each month. We will be at one of our project sites this month either in Barnet. Activities include litter picking in the stream and surrounding space, vegetation removal and balsam removal. Where to meet:Watling Park - Barnet HA8Nearest tube - Burnt Oak What to Bring:Dress for the weather and the task – long trousers and sleeves are advisable as there are nettles and brambles.Please bring a packed lunch and plenty of fluids.We will bring tea/coffee and biscuits.We will provide all other equipment (including wellies) needed for the event and we look forward to welcoming you! Email helen.cardy@thames21.org.uk if you have any questions.Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please make sure you have weather appropriate clothing for the day.Please get in touch if you have any questions about accessibility. We will do our best to make this event as accessible as possible.&nbsp;This is an event designed for the community to engage the local public with the river and not for corporates. If you are interested in a bespoke corporate volunteer day. Please visit our website&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thames21.org.uk/get-involved-2/corporateteamdays/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: inherit;">https://www.thames21.org.uk/get-involved-2/corporateteamdays/</a>

Action for Silk Stream - River Action Day

Watling Park

Join us to turn Oxleas Woods into a flood-fighting, biodiversity-boosting powerhouse! This winter, join us for 17 fun and hands-on volunteer events as we transform Oxleas Woods into a thriving wet woodland. Together, we’ll help slow the flow of floodwater, protect downstream communities, and create a vibrant habitat for wildlife. Activities include building leaky dams along the river Wogebourne and its tributaries, removing invasive vegetation and building a series of ponds in the wider woodland. These fun, practical activities help slow floodwaters and create vital habitats for local plants and animals, all while connecting people with nature! Where to meet:Oxleas Woods Café – What 3 Words: reply.bleat.liveNearest station – Falconwood What to Bring:Dress for the weather and the task – long trousers and sleeves are advisable as there are nettles and brambles.Please bring a packed lunch and plenty of fluids.We will bring tea/coffee and biscuits.We will provide all other equipment (including wellies) needed for the event and we look forward to welcoming you! Email charlie.southard@thames21.org.uk if you have any questions.Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please make sure you have weather appropriate clothing for the day.Please get in touch if you have any questions about accessibility. We will do our best to make this event as accessible as possible.&nbsp;Please note:&nbsp;A reasonable level of physical fitness is required for this event due to the nature of the tasks involved. While it's nothing too strenuous, activities will include lifting and pulling. Additionally, the project site is a 15 minute off-road walk from the meeting point. This is an event designed for the community to engage the local public with the river and not for corporates. If you are interested in a bespoke corporate volunteer day. Please visit our website&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thames21.org.uk/get-involved-2/corporateteamdays/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.thames21.org.uk/get-involved-2/corporateteamdays/</a>

Oxleas Wood

Join us to bring the Dollis Brook back to life! A total of 8 fun and interactive volunteer events will be held throughout the winter season to restore the Dollis Brook to its former glory. Activities include toeboard removal to reconnect the brook to its floodplain, deflector installation and invasive vegetation management.&nbsp; Where to meet:Longland Drive – What 3 Words: lift.fumes.cargo (about half way down - look for the Thames 21 van)Nearest tube – Totteridge &amp; Whetstone&nbsp; I have moved the location to Longland Drive as it is closer to our site and easier to transport the tools. Its also easier for me to park. What to Bring:Dress for the weather and the task – long trousers and sleeves are advisable as there are nettles and brambles.Please bring a packed lunch and plenty of fluids.We will bring tea/coffee and biscuits.We will provide all other equipment (including wellies) needed for the event and we look forward to welcoming you! Email charlie.southard@thames21.org.uk if you have any questions.Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please make sure you have weather appropriate clothing for the day.Please get in touch if you have any questions about accessibility. We will do our best to make this event as accessible as possible. Please note:&nbsp;A reasonable level of physical fitness is required for this event due to the nature of the tasks involved. While it's nothing too strenuous, activities will include lifting and pulling. Additionally, the walk from the meeting point to the project site can vary from 1 - 5 minutes depending on what stretch we are working on that day.&nbsp;This is an event designed for the community to engage the local public with the river and not for corporates. If you are interested in a bespoke corporate volunteer day. Please visit our website&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thames21.org.uk/get-involved-2/corporateteamdays/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.thames21.org.uk/get-involved-2/corporateteamdays/</a>

Dollis Brook Revival - River Restoration Project

meet half way down Longland Drive opposite the park entrance inbetween the houses

Dollis Brook - Longland Drive 

Join us for our Action for Silk Stream monthly volunteering days. They will be held on the last Thursday of each month. We will be at one of our project sites this month either in Barnet or Harrow. Activities include litter picking in the stream and surrounding space, vegetation removal and balsam removal. Where to meet:TBC - somewhere in the Silk stream catchment in Barnet or Harrow What to Bring:Dress for the weather and the task – long trousers and sleeves are advisable as there are nettles and brambles.Please bring a packed lunch and plenty of fluids.We will bring tea/coffee and biscuits.We will provide all other equipment (including wellies) needed for the event and we look forward to welcoming you! Email helen.cardy@thames21.org.uk if you have any questions.Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please make sure you have weather appropriate clothing for the day.Please get in touch if you have any questions about accessibility. We will do our best to make this event as accessible as possible.&nbsp;This is an event designed for the community to engage the local public with the river and not for corporates. If you are interested in a bespoke corporate volunteer day. Please visit our website&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thames21.org.uk/get-involved-2/corporateteamdays/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: inherit;">https://www.thames21.org.uk/get-involved-2/corporateteamdays/</a>

Join us to bring the River Beck back to life! The volunteer days will be held on sporadic Wednesdays from 11-3pm throughout the winter season. The project aims to revive the River Beck through High Broom Woods. Activities include installing dead hedging to prevent sedimentation of the river and manage access, litter picking in the stream and surrounding space, installing deflectors in the channel to improve the health of the river and removing invasive vegetation. Where to meet:High Broom Woods - Eresby Drive entrance - BR3 3SL (What 3 Words: usage.stores.bath)Nearest train - Eden Park What to Bring:Dress for the weather and the task – long trousers and sleeves are advisable as there are nettles and brambles.Please bring a packed lunch and plenty of fluids.We will bring tea/coffee and biscuits.We will provide all other equipment (including wellies) needed for the event and we look forward to welcoming you! Email charlie.southard@thames21.org.uk if you have any questions.Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please make sure you have weather appropriate clothing for the day.Please get in touch if you have any questions about accessibility. We will do our best to make this event as accessible as possible.&nbsp;Please note:&nbsp;A reasonable level of physical fitness is required for this event due to the nature of the tasks involved. While it's nothing too strenuous, activities will include lifting and pulling. Additionally, the walk from the meeting point to the project site takes approximately 5 minutes. This is an event designed for the community to engage the local public with the river and not for corporates. If you are interested in a bespoke corporate volunteer day. Please visit our website&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thames21.org.uk/get-involved-2/corporateteamdays/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.thames21.org.uk/get-involved-2/corporateteamdays/</a>

Woodland in Bromley, managed by idverde. This woodland is part of the river beck project

High Broom Wood

Drop in and discover how you can help revive the Gores Brook! Where to meet:Gores Brook Park - RM9 6LD (What 3 words: itself.bunch.manliness)Nearest tube - Dagenham Heathway Curious about the changes happening in your local river? Join Charlie from the Thames 21 River Restoration team to discover what's been done to revive the Gores Brook and learn how you can be part of the journey. This session is all about coming together to celebrate and care for this beautiful local waterway. You'll learn about the restoration work carried out over the winter months, discover the positive impact it's had, and find out how you can continue to help protect and preserve the natural beauty of the brook for generations to come. We will finish off the event with a community litter pick and water quality testing! Whether you’ve got 10 minutes or an hour, we’d love to see you! Look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible! Charlie

Thames21 Limited

Thames21 Limited

Northbrook Park Wetlands: Practical Volunteering with Thames21

Thames Historic Sunset Foreshore Walk

Gores Brook Engagement Event

Back in Beck - River Restoration Project

Gores Brook Clean Up

Cherwell & Ray water quality report & action 2025

The Health of Our Rivers: Evidence from the Ock, Thames, and Tributaries

Action for Silk Stream - River Action Day

Slowing the Flow: Oxleas Woods

Dollis Brook Revival - River Restoration Project

Action for Silk Stream - River Action Day

Slowing the Flow Oxelas Woods

Back in Beck - River Restoration Project

Gores Brook Engagement Event