For the second year running quality roach rather than bream provided the winning catches in the annual 40 peg contest fished on the tidal Thames at Kew, Chiswick and Barnes.
The winner was Tony Rice with a float caught mixed bag of 14lbs from Barnes netting him a cool £400. The Chiswick zone was won by last years champion Mark Brush with 12lbs of roach including a magnificent specimen of 2.04. The big bream shoals failed to show at Kew resulting in much lower than usual weights although a couple of surprise sea trout were landed.
Zones
Kew A – Martin Smith 6.08
Kew B – Tom Bolton 5.00
Chiswick – C – Mark Brush 12.00
Barnes – D – Tony Rice 14.00
Other activities included kayaking, paddle boarding, river dipping and Seine netting which turned up big numbers of small bass as well flounders and coarse fish.
The match was organised by the Angling Trust and Tidefest is sponsored by Thames Water
As part of Thames Tidefest 2023 on September 17th 2023 we have teamed up with Edge Paddling who are based at Kew Bridge to offer you the chance to try a taster session at an incredibly low price of £5.
If you’ve never been in a canoe or Kayak before this is your chance! If you’ve had a go before and want to try it again, then this is for you too!
Sessions will go on throughout the day from 10.00am till 4.00pm. We will ask you to arrive half an hour early to fit you in a buoyancy aid and brief you. Then you will be out on the water for about 45 minutes.
There will be four kayaks and two family canoes per session. The cost is just £5 per boat. You will be lead by our team of qualified coaches.
· Kayaks are for one person aged 16 or over.
· A family canoe can hold a maximum of two adults together with two small children or one larger child. The canoe MUST contain at least one adult and one other active paddler, that is a second adult or an older child. If you are not sure if a canoe is suitable for your group or have any other questions, feel free to contact us on trips@edgepaddling.com.
Please be aware that coaches have responsibility assess the conditions on the day and make sure the paddlers are able to manage the boat. They have the final say on whether it is safe to take you out. If you fancy a go just book tickets below. If it seems fully booked, do still come by on the day as spaces may become available.
One of the brilliant things about Thames Tidefest is the atmosphere that is generated around Kew Bridge and Strand On The Green during the event. It’s absolutely joyful ! Plus you don’t have to spend a penny to enjoy the event as there are loads of free attractions and stalls.
River Dipping
Find out for yourself some of the amazing creatures that live in the river with our fantastic river dipping sessions run by Thames 21This is always a hugely popular activity is suitable for both adults and families with children. These will be walk up sessions from 11am till 4.00pm. No need to book and boots are supplied. Just come on down and get dipping !
What’s In The River ?
If you don’t fancy grabbing a net yourself then…..The Institute of Fisheries Management (IFM) will be giving demonstrations of seine netting and displays of their catches from the slipway adjacent to Kew Bridge and Strand on the Green from around 11.30am onwards. A small stand with fish tanks and educational material will be in the Thames 21 marquee from 11am to 5pm Come along and find out what is living in the Thames Tideway.
Watch the boats go by !
There’s always something happening on the water and Tidefest is a great time to head to the shore and see some of the amazing craft that use the Thames as a highway
Fishing Competition
Angling Competition Weigh-in from 3.30pmCome and see the amazing range of fish that live in the tidal Thames. 40 top anglers will be competing in this year’s Thames Tidefest Angling Championship. You can watch them catch all sorts of amazing fish. Fishing takes place : Four hours from 9am – 1pm (depending on tide height)
The weigh in is from 1pm and the prize giving at Strand on the Green at 2.30pm
Thames Artefacts
The River Thames contains a living history of human life in the area over the many previous thousand years including the last Ice Age. It acts as self- excavating trench exposing where our ancesters have lived, what they ate and wore, as well as tracing the changes through the prehistoric periods to modern day. Evidence of this can often be seen on the modern foreshore, which is twice a day exposed to view. Come and see some of the range of the finds uncovered with Thames archaeologist, Dr Fiona Haughey. Artefacts dating from the last ice age, through prehistory, the brief Roman period as well as times up to the present period (artefacts of the future!) will be on display. Come and hold a piece of history in your hand!!!
Paddlesports have always been an integral part of the Thames Tidefest experience.Active 360 will be running their amazing Paddleboarding experiences once again !Paddle board experts Active 360 be offering some amazing trips for all the family – details below.
Costs and Timings:
10.00 – 11.30 – Paddle and Pick (14yrs+) – A 90 minute paddle and litter pick around the local islands Brentford and Lots Ait. We provide all equipment including litter pickers.
12.00 – 14.30 – Thames Natural History tour (14yrs+) – A guided SUP trip learning about the history and ecology of the Thames and its fascinating wildlife. We provide coaching and guiding and all equipment required.
12.00 – 14.30 – Group SUP session (16yrs+) – An open group lesson with the tide both ways heading down to Barnes and back. Suitable for all levels.
12.30 – 13.45 – Family Taster SUP trip (11yrs+) – A shorter group trip with the tide both ways heading up past Olivers Island. Suitable for groups and individuals of all abilities.
15.45 – 17.45 – Group SUP session (16yrs+) – An open group lesson with the tide both ways heading up to London apprentice Old Isleworth and back on the flood tide and returning on the ebb passing the last remaining water meadows on the Tidal Thames.
Thames Tidefest aims to celebrate London’s river and has been running since 2014. Despite a reduction in our sponsorship we are pleased to announce a smaller scale event for this year at Strand on the Green, Chiswick on Sunday 17th September from 10am to 5pm. The following events are taking place: – River Dipping with Thames 21 (free)
A display of Thames foreshore artefact discoveries (free)
A Stand Up Paddle boarding with Active 360 including a paddle and pick clean up event and a Natural History Tour plus a clean up of the foreshore around the Kew Bridge Drawdock. (tickets from https://active360.co.uk/)
There is something both exhilarating and incredibly peaceful about paddling quietly in a solo kayak or with family and friends in an open canoe on the beautiful river Thames as Chiswick.
As part of Thames Tidefest 2022 on September 4th 2022 we have teamed up with Edge Paddling who are based at Kew Bridge to offer you the chance to try a taster session at an incredibly low price starting at just £5 (plus booking fee).
If you’ve never been in a canoe or Kayak before this is your chance ! If you’ve had a go before and long to try it again, then this is for you too !
Sessions will go on throughout the day from 11.00am till 3.00pm
There are four solo kayaks available for each session and two family canoes per session. (A family canoe can hold a maximum of two adults and two small children or one larger teenager and MUST contain at least one adult)
Kayaks – 1 person per kayak, all participants must be 16years +
If you fancy a go just book tickets below and be sure to wear clothes that you don’t mind getting a bit wet and sensible shoes. All equipment, including buoyancy aids will be supplied.
Qualified coaches will lead the groups and coaches reserve the right to assess the suitability of groups on the day.
Family Canoe costs £10 per session (plus booking fee)
The mud and gravel that makes up the Thames foreshore is quite literally littered with History. Every day amazing new objects from long are found as the mighty river constantly uncovers lost and discarded items from many centuries of settlements along it’s banks. From Roman jewellery to WW2 munitions the diverse rage of archaeological items discovered where the tide goes out is quite staggering. What’s more the buildings themselves and the man made structure that keeps the Thames within it banks (most of the time!) are also full of fascinating history.
You can read an amazing article about some of the things found on the London Forshore, written by Friend of Tidefest Lara Maiklem HERE
As part of Thames Tidefest 2022 we will once again be running our highly popular Thames Foreshore guided walks will led by local archaeologist Dr Fiona Haughey who has worked on the Thames foreshore since 1993. Come along a witness the living history of London’s river who knows what might be found ! Tickets are just £5 per person (plus booking fee).
Meeting point: head of the new river stairs by Kew bridge upstream side (off the Kew Bridge piazza)
Timings: Ist walk 14.30-15.30 2nd walk 16.00-17.00
Each group maximum number 20 in total. No unaccompanied children. Suitable for children aged 7yrs upwards, not any younger. Not suitable for those with mobility issues – steps, uneven underfoot, muddy areas. Suitable footgear for an uneven, muddy environment ie trainers/wellies/stout shoes. Gloves will be provided
(Only those able to show a PLA permit will be allowed to take anything away from the foreshore)
Thames Tidefest will be held on September 4th 2022 and brings a host of free and low cost fun for all the family to enjoy on and around the Thames at Chiswick in London.
There’s lots to do for the family that’s absolutely free, including River dipping, Circus skills and stalls, plus lots to see such as the sailing race, fishing match and the RNLI lifeboat. Full details HERE
The Chelsea Kayak Club is London’s friendly sea kayaking club. They are based at Brentford Boating Arch at Kew Bridge so they are a perfect partner for Thames Tidefest !
On September 4th 2022 they will be running 1hr 30 minute Sea Kayaking taster session for just £10 per person on the beautiful River Thames. If you fancy a go then this is the perfect opportunity and also a great way to find out if you might be interested in joining the club and getting involved with all their activities. BOOK NOW as their are limited places (see below)
Each session includes some tuition followed by a paddle in a single sea kayaks.
OVER 18’s ONLY
We suggest wearing sports clothing and shoes that can get wet. 8 places available per session. Session timings:
*. 10.15 – 12noon
· 12noon – 1.30pm
· 1.45-3.15pm
· 3.30-5pm
Participants should be over 18 years of age, be able to swim 50 metres and come changed ready to paddle.
Meet up at the Eel Pie Island Museum which covers the early careers of Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, Bowie, Genesis and many other 1960’s stars and their links to the island. Staff will be on hand to talk about the exhibits.
Then setting off on your fully illustrated walk along Twickenham’s historic Arcadian riverside. Some of your stops along the way: Church St in the heart of the riverside village, the Embankment overlooking Eel Pie Island, Twickenham’s very own Naked Ladies, the 17th century White Swan Pub (time for a pint later!), and Orleans House Gallery, home to the borough’s art collection.
Twickenham’s very own Naked Ladies have quite a story !
Your walk will finish on the riverside opposite Ham House, next to Hammertons Ferry.
Participants are then welcome to return to the museum at any time during the day (the museum closes at 6pm).
Meet up at the award-winning Eel Pie Island Museum in central Twickenham
Meeting Point is Eel Pie Island Museum. 1-3 Richmond Road Twickenham TW1 3AB
