Getting involved: the 10th London Rivers Week is seeking to get more communities in the capital engaged with the environmental issues surrounding their local water ways

This year’s London Rivers Week, which flows through the city until Saturday May 31, marks a decade of connecting people with the capital’s waterways.

The festival’s theme is “know your local river”, with a wide-ranging programme of free events designed to help people discover, enjoy and care for the rivers on their doorstep.

While the River Thames is widely recognised, many of the smaller rivers and tributaries that feed into it remain largely unknown. London Rivers Week aims to shine a light on the capital’s lesser-known rivers, helping people uncover the network that flow through, and often under, their neighbourhoods.

From guided walks and boat trips to clean-ups and family-friendly activities, the festival invites people of all ages to experience the city’s rivers in new ways, and to recognise both their value and the work being done to protect them.

London’s rivers are vital spaces for wildlife and communities alike, but they continue to face significant challenges, including pollution, urban run-off and the growing impacts of climate change.

Building a stronger connection between people and their local rivers is seen as a crucial step in safeguarding these environments for the future, the organisers of the festival state.

Under threat: the River Wandle, with sources in South Croydon and Carshalton, is a rare chalk stream, vulnerable to pollution

Projects across the capital are helping to restore rivers to a more natural state, improving habitats, supporting biodiversity and creating healthier, more resilient waterways. Organisers say that public awareness and involvement are key to ensuring this progress continues.

Chris Coode, CEO at environmental charity Thames21, said: “We’re delighted to see London Rivers Week return for its 10th year, bringing together communities, partners and river users to celebrate the capital’s blue spaces. With a fantastic programme of free events – from riverside walks and cruises to family-friendly activities – the ‘Week’ invites everyone to get to know London’s rivers in new ways.

“The more people understand and value their local rivers, the more we can achieve together to protect and restore them for the future.”

• For more information about London Rivers Week and the events being staged, click here

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