Find out why Tidefest ’17 is going to be the best yet !
All posts by John Cheyne
Do you recognise any of these men ?
Do you recognise these men who worked on Lots Ait boatyard 37yrs ago? Is your your dad, an uncle or a neighbour? Tell us their names and any stories you may remember about them’. We are trying to find out more about the men who worked in the boatyard as we piece together details of the islands fascinating social history
If you can help please get in touch with
Dr Fiona Haughty, Archaeologist & Archaeological Illustrator, Director Archaeology on the Thames Project
There is also a chance to visit Lot’s Ait as part of Thames Tidefest ’17 where you will be given a guided tour and find out the fascinating history of the boatyard. See below
All Photos courtesy of Brian Liddle
Lots Ait Boatyard Tour – Brentford
Come and discover Brentford’s best kept secret and learn about the importance of this small island on the Thames. Lots Ait is home to John’s Boat Works, the Two-Lipped Door Snail and a thriving community of boat dwellers. It was also a key location for the film ‘The African Queen’. Meet John and a former apprentice from the original boat yard and hear about Lots Ait’s amazing boat building history. View the ‘Back to the Future’ exhibition curated by Wendy Kloos and learn about its historic past and discover the natural environment of this small island and its wild inhabitants with archaeologists Dr Fiona Haughey and Ynys Crowston-Boaler.
Suitable for accompanied children over 12 yrs.
Venue: Meet at Goat Wharf (by the gate on 10mins beforehand) adjacent to 41 High Street, Brentford, TW8 0BB
Times: Tours are at 2pm, 3pm, 4pm and 5pm for groups of up to 20 persons.
Cost: £3 per person
There will also be an exhibition to be held at Brentford library, Boston Manor Road, TW8 8DW with thanks to Kathleen Samad, James Marshall and Ann Cartwright.
Films, Talks & Tours
Chiswick Pier Trust Events
‘Through the porthole – the pleasures, perils and pitfalls of houseboat living on the Thames’: a double-bill presentation from Chiswick Pier Trust and the River Thames Society
Over a thousand people live afloat on the Thames between Teddington Lock and the Thames Barrier. To the outsider, these floating villages look like an idyllic and affordable alternative to the over-heated London housing market. Whilst the great views of the river, the sense of community and the closeness of nature are genuine, it’s not always plain sailing. This double bill, presented as part of TideFest 2017, gives a more realistic view of life on the Thames, including the complicated and unregulated process of buying a houseboat.
1:45pm: ‘Life Afloat’ – Film on the Pleasures and Perils of Houseboat-living on the tidal Thames
Life Afloat is a 55 minute film which delves into the stories of house boat residents and challenges the romantic view of life afloat. Residents interviewed for the film include actor Imogen Stubbs, who likens living on a boat to ‘living in a whale or a womb’, and artist Denis Postle who describes the experience as ‘like living inside a cello or a double bass’. The film looks at how tidal life for these communities has changed throughout the decades. Originally a pursuit for bohemians and those with little income, changes have taken place alongside those of London house prices and river-side property development. The film reflects on these changes and the impact it will have on the future of these floating communities.
Registration and refreshments from 1:30pm.
3:00pm: ‘Buying a Houseboat on the Thames – Understanding the Risks and Pitfalls’ – Talk from Hilary Pereira of the River Thames Society
Buying a houseboat on the Thames is a high-risk venture in an increasingly expensive yet unregulated market. There are many questions to consider and speaker will guide the audience through these, including the differences from buying a flat and provide an illustrated guide to the various pitfalls that can catch out unwary buyers. Hilary has lived afloat for many years, initially on the canals, but, for the last 40 years, on the Thames where she has also brought up two children on board. This is a unique opportunity to hear from an experienced Houseboat resident and owner.
Time: 1:30 – 4:00pm
Venue: Pier House, Chiswick Pier Trust, Corney Reach Estate, Chiswick, London W4 2UG
Admission: £3 per event or £5 for both. (no charge for pensioners or under 16s)
Free to Chiswick Pier Trust and River Thames Society members
A Plastic Ocean Film Showing
Plastic Oceans Festival – Two 90 minute environmental films to be shown at the One Over the Ait
There will be a special screening of “A Plastic Ocean” as part of Tidefest 2017. It’s a new adventure documentary that brings to light the consequences of our global disposable lifestyle. An international team go on a mission around the globe to uncover the shocking truth about what is lurking beneath the surface of our seemingly pristine seas.
Watch the trailer below.
https://youtu.be/6zrn4-FfbXw
Screenings: 3pm
Venue: One Over the Ait, Kew Bridge Piazza (upstairs)
Admission: Free Please book in advance for free tickets HERE
Oliver’s Island Adventure
Come on a visit to this special place on the Thames – Oliver’s island at Strand on the Green – and hear about the long history and its current environmental importance. With kind permission of the PLA, who own the island, we are able to offer places for a limited number of visitors to this normally ‘out of bounds’ site for a series of archaeologist-led tours by Dr Fiona Haughey.
Access to the island is courtesy of the London Kayak Company Ltd whose volunteers will check off each group before they access the kayaks and make sure each member has a lifejacket.
For those aged over 16 only. Please wear trainers or similar and lifejackets will be provided.
Times: 10am, 10.30am, 11am, 11.30am, 12 noon. ( 5 groups of 6 )
Venue: Strand on the Green Sailing Club, under Kew Rail Bridge (between City Barge and Bull’s Head pubs)
Cost: £5 per person
Lots Ait Boatyard Tour – Brentford
Come and discover Brentford’s best kept secret and learn about the importance of this small island on the Thames. Lots Ait is home to John’s Boat Works, the Two-Lipped Door Snail and a thriving community of boat dwellers. It was also a key location for the film ‘The African Queen’. Meet John and a former apprentice from the original boat yard and hear about Lots Ait’s amazing boat building history. View the ‘Back to the Future’ exhibition curated by Wendy Kloos and learn about its historic past and discover the natural environment of this small island and its wild inhabitants with archaeologists Dr Fiona Haughey and Ynys Crowston-Boaler.
Suitable for accompanied children over 12 yrs.
Venue: Meet at Goat Wharf (by the gate on 10mins beforehand) adjacent to 41 High Street, Brentford, TW8 0BB
Times: Tours are at 2pm, 3pm, 4pm and 5pm for groups of up to 20 persons.
Cost: £3 per person
TideFest Discounts at London Museum of Water & Steam
London Museum of Water & Steam is home to magnificent collection of steam pumping engines and tells the history of London’s water supply. This great little museum by Kew Bridge is offering a special TideFest package where all kids under 15 yrs get in free of charge and adults receive a special £8.00 rate, instead of £11.50, by quoting Tidefest or presenting a Tidefest programme. The discount is valid on the day or afterwards with a programme.
Venue: Green Dragon Lane, Brentford, TW8 0EN
Times: 11am to 4pm
Cost: £8 adults, kids under 15 free
Contact: 020 8568 4757 or http://www.waternadsteam.org.uk/
Cost: £10 per person
Lea Navigation Reedbed Boat Tours
Thames21’s “Love the Lea” Programme has been working to improve the River Lea for the last five years, to provide habitats for wildlife and improve the water quality of the river they have been putting in new reedbeds into the Lea Navigation. Join them on board the ‘Alfred Le Roy’ for a relaxed trip on the river with commentary from Thames21 project officers. Advance booking required.
Please wear sensible footwear. Suitable for accompanied children over 8yrs.
Trips will be leaving at 10:30am, 1:00pm
Cost: Free of Charge to first 40 people in the queue
Meeting point: Thames21 Lock Office, Navigation Way Off Gilender Street, Bromley By Bow, E3 3JY
Finishing point Crate Brewery, The white building, Queen’s Yard, Hackney Wick, London E9 5EN
Bookings: Online http://tidefest17reedbedtour.eventzilla.net
NOTE: If you have any booking queries please contact ben.fenton@thames21.org.uk
Free Events & Activities
Kayaking and Canoeing with Edge Progressive Paddling
Edge Progressive Paddling are a membership club run by volunteers for the local community who will be organising a set of multi boat paddling sessions on the Thames near Kew Bridge. They have many types of boat and vessels and their qualified and experienced Level 1 and Level 2 coaches will make sure you get the right one for your session! Sessions will last for 45 minutes, catering for both individuals and families. Wear light clothing and old pair of trainers or shoes. Please arrive 15 minutes early to get kitted up with bouyancy aids and paddles.
There’s a dry bag to put your small possessions and we have changing rooms on site.
Venue: Kew Bridge Arch, Strand on the Green.
Times: 10am – 5pm
Age: 7+
Cost: FREE
Bookings. Just turn up on the day !
Hogsmill Nature Reserve
Thames water are opening up their Hogsmill Nature Reserve at Surbiton for Tidefest. Come and along and enjoy:
* Bird watching with Surbiton District Bird Watching Society
* Meeting the Environment Trust volunteers from Berrylands Reserve
* Learning glass bee hive with Kingston Beekeeping Association
* Mosaic making with Swallow Mosaics
* Arts and Crafts & Face Painting
* Pond dipping
Venue: Surbiton Lagoon, Lower Marsh Lane KT1 3BW
Timings: 11am -3pm
Cost: FREE
Bookings: No need to book
Community Activities and Stalls at Strand on the Green
A whole range of free, family-friendly activities and displays will be available at the Strand-on-the-Green. Marquees on the riverside embankment will host displays on the Thames Tideway Tunnel, children’s activities and games, stalls run by river and environmental groups. The London Wildlife Trust will be there to talk about the capital’s wildlife and to sign up Dragonfly Detectives as part of an exciting new project to survey the capital’s rivers and ponds. There will be a charity stall run by WaterAid as well as live music, ice creams, refreshments and lots of information to take away.
Venue: Strand on the Green Embankment W4 3RE
Times: 10am to 5pm
Thames Water Marquee
Thames Water are organising some fun, interactive, craft activities to help you learn about the biodiversity of the river and why we need to protect it. They will be handing out freebies to help you to save water, energy and money, along with an opportunity to take part in the Network Challenge where you get to design your own water system.
Venue: Strand on the Green Embankment W4 3R
Foreshore Activities – River Dipping and Seine Netting
On the Foreshore at Strand-on-the-Green there will be children’s activities including river dipping, water testing and games designed to explain and increase understanding of what’s going on in the river run by the environmental charity Thames21. Alongside this will be seine netting supervised by ZSL and the Institute of Fisheries management to show you what lives in the Thames. The Environment Agency will have a fish tank displaying live fish from the river.
Venue: Strand on the Green Embankment W4 3RE
Times: River Dipping from 11am. Seine netting 1pm to 4pm
Cost: Free to all but bring your wellies
MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology) Time Truck
The new MOLA Time Truck will be parked up next to Kew Bridge and hosting a rolling drop in demonstration of the Thames Water sponsored Cleaning up History education programme. This innovative activity includes hands on education around London’s sewers combined with the thrill of archaeological discovery. There will also be an opportunity to learn more about the Time Truck, MOLA’s ambitious outreach plans, and Thames Water’s education programme.
Venue: Kew Road (west of Kew bridge) W4 3NG
Times: 10am to 5pm
Booking: Just turn up
Cost: FREE OF CHARGE
Local Artists Tent
Steph Curtis-Raleigh will be joined by other local artists to celebrate art and the river. For a third year, there will be a river painting which is free for everyone to contribute to – young or old. The river will ‘flow’ during the day to be unveiled in all its glory at the end of Tidefest.
All visitors will have access to paper, paints, glitter, glue and other goodies to express themselves. We will run a competition and email a voucher to the best drawing of the day. This will allow us to use social media to post pictures of the paintings and to announce the winning one etc
Venue: Strand on the Green Embankment W4 3RE
Music at Tidefest
Duffy and Bird will be playing two sets in the Kew bridge Piazza to entertain visitors.
Their music features Al Bird on guitar and Tricia Duffy on vocals. 2 birds, 1 capo. Unique twists and interpretations of great tunes. Rock, pop, country and a bit of jazz.
12-3pm
Venue: Kew Bridge Piazza
Building the Thames Garbage Patch
Reusing plastic collected from the Thames for SUP building workshops. Followed by a race with boards made from waste plastic bottles to highlight the scourge of plastic pollution.
Cost: Free
Bookings Bookings: via Active 360 website
Contact: 020 3393 5360
Meet ‘Slurper’ the plastic straw monster at Strand on the Green
At Tidefest we all want to see a reduction in single use plastic so as part of the campaign to stop the plastic tide we have linked up with the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) and are challenging people to refuse plastic straws and help to persuade businesses to stop handing them out. Check out the last straw challenge at https://www.mcsuk.org/clean-seas/straws
MCS beach clean volunteers find thousands of plastic drinking straws around UK coasts annually, and millions of people have seen film footage of the harm they do to wildlife such as marine turtles.
People can also get involved with The MCS plastic challenge #GOplasticfree
Come along and show your support and have a photo with Slurper to share with your friends.
TIMES: 11am – 3pm
Venue: strand on the Green Foreshore
Bring boots or sturdy shoes
We’ll be back next year !
Thames Tidefest 2018 is over for this year.
Tidefest will be back next year, so keep your eyes open for updates as we plan for Tidefest 2019 !
In the meantime, here are just some of the events we had at the 2018 event.
BOAT TRIPS & CRUISES
River Lea Heritage Cruise from Cody
Join the Gasworks Dock Partnership’s Heritage Cruise on a 2 hour tour to explore the rich industrial and waterways history of London’s River Lea. There will also be an exhibition in the Gasworks Gallery focusing on the River Lea and the Gardens and Cody Dock Cafe will be open as well.
Thames Cruise on the Windrush
Take a boat trip along the Thames. The River Thames Society is organising four hour-long boat trips around the Thames Tideway islands, leaving from Kew Pier on the historic Thames launch the “Windrush”. Guided commentary is included.
A guided boat trip and visit to Chiswick Pier and back aboard the Thames Discoverer.
Join Peter Finch – chairman of the River Thames Society, and an authority on the river, on guided river cruise aboard the magnificent Thames Discoverer. Peter will point out local landmarks throughout the trip.
At Chiswick Pier, you will see and hear about the work of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, their boat and the equipment they use. The RNLI at Chiswick is a working lifeboat Station. If they have to respond to an emergency on the day, and are not available, then Peter will take you on a short walk to explore the delights of old historic Chiswick. The round trip will last just over an hour and is suitable for all ages.
Guided Walks, Tours & Adventures
Oliver’s Island Adventure
Come on a visit to this special place on the Thames – Oliver’s island at Strand on the Green – and hear about the long history and its current environmental importance. You will get to this secret island by kayak (provided) with kind permission of the PLA, who own the island, we are able to offer places for a limited number of visitors to this normally ‘out of bounds’ site for a series of archaeologist-led tours by Dr Fiona Haughey.
Talk & Walk at the Eel Pie Island Museum.
A 20-minute guided tour of the Museum which helped launch the careers of Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones and many others in the 1960s, followed by an illustrated Walk along the Embankment using archive photos to compare then and now. Participants are then welcome to come back to the museum to peruse the exhibits. This ticket will entitle you to membership and free access to the museum for one year and an Eel Pie Passport
Strand on the Green Foreshore Walk
Come and explore the Thames foreshore at Strand-on-the-Green with Lara Maiklem (aka London Mudlark) where you can find evidence of the ancient past right up to the recent present underneath your feet! Uncovered twice a day, the dynamic inter-tidal zone reveals its secrets so come and look for this ‘treasure’ before it erodes away.
Historic Boatyard Tour – Lots Ait
Come and discover Brentford’s best kept secret and learn about the importance of this small island on the Thames. Lots Ait is home to John’s Boat Works, the Two-Lipped Door Snail and a thriving community of boat dwellers. It was also a key location for the film ‘The African Queen’. Meet John and a former apprentice from the original boat yard and hear about Lots Ait’s amazing boat building history.
Low Tide River Wade in Deptford Creek
Join us for guided adventure in Deptford Creek for adults and accompanied children ages 9+. Wade in a wild river and experience a different perspective of London history and urban wildlife. Led by our conservationist with 30 years’ experience, we guarantee you some good, clean, muddy fun! The expeditions lasts about two hours. Participants need to be reasonably fit as you will be walking on the bed of a wild river. We provide waders, a waterproof and a walking stick and suggest you wear old clothes. Advance booking is essential.
Time: 10am-12pm
Meeting point: Creekside Discovery Centre, 14 Creekside, Deptford, SE8 4SA
Tickets: £12 adults, £10 seniors/students, £8 children Booking Details: BOOK HERE
Paddlesports
Kayaking and Canoeing with Edge Progressive Paddling
Edge Progressive Paddling are a membership club run by volunteers for the local community who will be organising a set of multi boat paddling sessions on the Thames near Kew Bridge. They have many types of boat and vessels and their qualified and experienced Level 1 and Level 2 coaches will make sure you get the right one for your session! Sessions will last for 45 minutes, catering for both individuals and families. Wear light clothing and old pair of trainers or shoes. Please arrive 15 minutes early to get kitted up with bouyancy aids and paddles.
There’s a dry bag to put your small possessions and we have changing rooms on site.
Venue: Kew Bridge Arch, Strand on the Green.
Times: 10am – 5pm
Ages 7+
Cost: FREE
Bookings. Just turn up on the day !
Stand Up Paddleboarding
SUP specialists Active 360 will be running pre-booked 50 minute supervised sessions at Kew Bridge from 9.30am for those new to paddleboarding, although all those under 18s must be accompanied by an adult. Lots of other events too.
Cost: £8 adults £4 under 18s (with parent)
Foreshore clean-up
9.00 – 10.00am. A £5 Paddle and Pick event including a short SUP lesson
Red Dragon Racing
3/4 people per board races between railway bridge and Kew Bridge for 16 people
Cost: £8
Paddleboard Trips
3 hr Eco tour and lesson 13.15-15.15pm. Chiswick Island and back.
Cost: £40
3 hr SUP trip and lesson 13.15-15.15pm.
Cost £40
2 hr Trip and lesson downriver to Barnes and back 14.00-16.00.
Cost: £30
Building the Thames Garbage Patch
Reusing plastic collected from the Thames for SUP building workshops. Followed by a race with boards made from waste plastic bottles to highlight the scourge of plastic pollution.
Cost: Free
Bookings Bookings: via Active 360 website
Contact: 020 3393 5360
Kayaking and Canoeing with Edge Progressive Paddling
Edge Progressive Paddling are a membership club run by volunteers for the local community who will be organising a set of multi boat paddling sessions on the Thames near Kew Bridge. They have many types of boat and vessels and their qualified and experienced Level 1 and Level 2 coaches will make sure you get the right one for your session! Sessions will last for 45 minutes, catering for both individuals and families. Wear light clothing and old pair of trainers or shoes. Please arrive 15 minutes early to get kitted up with bouyancy aids and paddles.
There’s a dry bag to put your small possessions and we have changing rooms on site.
Venue: Kew Bridge Arch, Strand on the Green.
Times: 10am – 5pm
Age: 7+
Cost: FREE
Bookings. Just turn up on the day !
Hogsmill Nature Reserve
Thames water are opening up their Hogsmill Nature Reserve at Surbiton for Tidefest. Come and along and enjoy:
* Bird watching with Surbiton District Bird Watching Society
* Meeting the Environment Trust volunteers from Berrylands Reserve
* Learning glass bee hive with Kingston Beekeeping Association
* Mosaic making with Swallow Mosaics
* Arts and Crafts & Face Painting
* Pond dipping
Venue: Surbiton Lagoon, Lower Marsh Lane KT1 3BW
Timings: 11am -3pm
Cost: FREE
Bookings: No need to book
Community Activities and Stalls at Strand on the Green
A whole range of free, family-friendly activities and displays will be available at the Strand-on-the-Green. Marquees on the riverside embankment will host displays on the Thames Tideway Tunnel, children’s activities and games, stalls run by river and environmental groups. The London Wildlife Trust will be there to talk about the capital’s wildlife and to sign up Dragonfly Detectives as part of an exciting new project to survey the capital’s rivers and ponds. There will be a charity stall run by WaterAid as well as live music, ice creams, refreshments and lots of information to take away.
Venue: Strand on the Green Embankment W4 3RE
Times: 10am to 5pm
Thames Water Marquee
Thames Water are organising some fun, interactive, craft activities to help you learn about the biodiversity of the river and why we need to protect it. They will be handing out freebies to help you to save water, energy and money, along with an opportunity to take part in the Network Challenge where you get to design your own water system.
Venue: Strand on the Green Embankment W4 3R
Foreshore Activities – River Dipping and Seine Netting
On the Foreshore at Strand-on-the-Green there will be children’s activities including river dipping, water testing and games designed to explain and increase understanding of what’s going on in the river run by the environmental charity Thames21. Alongside this will be seine netting supervised by ZSL and the Institute of Fisheries management to show you what lives in the Thames. The Environment Agency will have a fish tank displaying live fish from the river.
Venue: Strand on the Green Embankment W4 3RE
Times: River Dipping from 11am. Seine netting 1pm to 4pm
Cost: Free to all but bring your wellies
MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology) Time Truck
The new MOLA Time Truck will be parked up next to Kew Bridge and hosting a rolling drop in demonstration of the Thames Water sponsored Cleaning up History education programme. This innovative activity includes hands on education around London’s sewers combined with the thrill of archaeological discovery. There will also be an opportunity to learn more about the Time Truck, MOLA’s ambitious outreach plans, and Thames Water’s education programme.
Venue: Kew Road (west of Kew bridge) W4 3NG
Times: 10am to 5pm
Booking: Just turn up
Cost: FREE OF CHARGE
Local Artists Tent
Steph Curtis-Raleigh will be joined by other local artists to celebrate art and the river. For a third year, there will be a river painting which is free for everyone to contribute to – young or old. The river will ‘flow’ during the day to be unveiled in all its glory at the end of Tidefest.
All visitors will have access to paper, paints, glitter, glue and other goodies to express themselves. We will run a competition and email a voucher to the best drawing of the day. This will allow us to use social media to post pictures of the paintings and to announce the winning one etc
Venue: Strand on the Green Embankment W4 3RE
Music at Tidefest
Duffy and Bird will be playing two sets in the Kew bridge Piazza to entertain visitors.
Their music features Al Bird on guitar and Tricia Duffy on vocals. 2 birds, 1 capo. Unique twists and interpretations of great tunes. Rock, pop, country and a bit of jazz.
12-3pm
Venue: Kew Bridge Piazza
Building the Thames Garbage Patch
Reusing plastic collected from the Thames for SUP building workshops. Followed by a race with boards made from waste plastic bottles to highlight the scourge of plastic pollution.
Cost: Free
Bookings Bookings: via Active 360 website
Contact: 020 3393 5360
Meet ‘Slurper’ the plastic straw monster at Strand on the Green
At Tidefest we all want to see a reduction in single use plastic so as part of the campaign to stop the plastic tide we have linked up with the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) and are challenging people to refuse plastic straws and help to persuade businesses to stop handing them out. Check out the last straw challenge at https://www.mcsuk.org/clean-seas/straws
MCS beach clean volunteers find thousands of plastic drinking straws around UK coasts annually, and millions of people have seen film footage of the harm they do to wildlife such as marine turtles.
People can also get involved with The MCS plastic challenge #GOplasticfree
Come along and show your support and have a photo with Slurper to share with your friends.
TIMES: 11am – 3pm
Venue: strand on the Green Foreshore
Bring boots or sturdy shoes
TideFest Discounts at London Museum of Water & Steam
Based at the historic Kew Bridge Waterworks, the London Museum of Water & Steam tells the story of London’s water supply, the site, its people and the water pumping engines that helped make London the city it is today. This great independent museum by Kew Bridge is offering a special TideFest package where all kids under 15 years get in free of charge and adults receive a special £8.00 rate by quoting TideFest or presenting a TideFest programme.
Venue: Green Dragon Lane, Brentford, TW8 0EN
Times: 10am to 4pm
Cost: £8 adults, kids under 15 free
Contact: 020 8568 4757 or www.waternadsteam.org.uk
Richmond Row Boats – TideFest Discounts
Fancy something a little more energetic? Our friends at Richmond Bridge Boat Hire are offering £5 per person off the hire of their extensive fleet of rowing boats in exchange for a discount voucher . Check out their website at www.richmondbridgeboathouses.co.uk
This generous offer is restricted to one voucher person with a limit of 100 people in total. Each boat must contain at least one adult.
Just order a voucher above and print it off and bring it to the boathouse at Richmond Bridge
Times: Rowing boat hire from 10am to 7pm
Venue: Richmond Bridge Boat Hire, Bridge Boathouses, Richmond upon Thames,
Surrey. TW9 1TH
Guided Walks, Wild Adventures, Fish and Fishing
Low Tide River Wade in Deptford Creek
Join us for guided adventure in Deptford Creek for adults and accompanied children ages 9+. Wade in a wild river and experience a different perspective of London history and urban wildlife. Led by our conservationist with 30 years’ experience, we guarantee you some good, clean, muddy fun! The expeditions lasts about two hours. Participants need to be reasonably fit as you will be walking on the bed of a wild river. We provide waders, a waterproof and a walking stick and suggest you wear old clothes. Advance booking is essential.
Time: 10am-12pm
Numbers: 35 in total, individual bookings 1-6 people
Meeting point: Creekside Discovery Centre, 14 Creekside, Deptford, SE8 4SA Directions
Tickets: £12 adults, £10 seniors/students, £8 children
Booking Details:
http://www.creeksidecentre.org.uk/events/low-tide-walk-10th-september-2017
Oliver’s Island Adventure
Come on a visit to this special place on the Thames – Oliver’s island at Strand on the Green – and hear about the long history and its current environmental importance. With kind permission of the PLA, who own the island, we are able to offer places for a limited number of visitors to this normally ‘out of bounds’ site for a series of archaeologist-led tours by Dr Fiona Haughey.
Access to the island is courtesy of the London Kayak Company Ltd whose volunteers will check off each group before they access the kayaks and make sure each member has a lifejacket.
For those aged over 16 only. Please wear trainers or similar and lifejackets will be provided.
Times: 10am, 10.30am, 11am, 11.30am, 12 noon. ( 5 groups of 6 )
Venue: Strand on the Green Sailing Club, under Kew Rail Bridge (between City Barge and Bull’s Head pubs)
Cost: £5 per person
Lots Ait Boatyard Tour – Brentford
Come and discover Brentford’s best kept secret and learn about the importance of this small island on the Thames. Lots Ait is home to John’s Boat Works, the Two-Lipped Door Snail and a thriving community of boat dwellers. It was also a key location for the film ‘The African Queen’. Meet John and a former apprentice from the original boat yard and hear about Lots Ait’s amazing boat building history. View the ‘Back to the Future’ exhibition curated by Wendy Kloos and learn about its historic past and discover the natural environment of this small island and its wild inhabitants with archaeologists Dr Fiona Haughey and Ynys Crowston-Boaler.
Suitable for accompanied children over 12 yrs.
Venue: Meet at Goat Wharf (by the gate on 10mins beforehand) adjacent to 41 High Street, Brentford, TW8 0BB
Times: Tours are at 2pm, 3pm, 4pm and 5pm for groups of up to 20 persons.
Cost: £3 per person
Strand-on-the-Green foreshore walk
Come and explore the Thames foreshore at Strand on the Green with London Mudlark, Lara Maiklem. Here you’ll find evidence of the ancient past to the recent present beneath your feet and before your eyes. Uncovered twice a day, the dynamic inter-tidal zone reveals its secrets so come and see this precious resource for yourself before it erodes away.
Suitable for accompanied children aged over 7.
Please come with sensible footwear. (boots or wellies)
Venue: Meet outside the Bull’s Head pub, Strand on the Green.
Time: 2.30 – 4.30pm
Cost: £3 per person
Foreshore Activities – River Dipping and Seine Netting
On the Foreshore at Strand-on-the-Green there will be children’s activities including river dipping, water testing and games designed to explain and increase understanding of what’s going on in the river run by the environmental charity Thames21. Alongside this will be seine netting supervised by ZSL and the Institute of Fisheries management to show you what lives in the Thames. The Environment Agency will have a fish tank displaying live fish from the river.
Venue: Strand on the Green Embankment W4 3RE
Times: River Dipping from 11am. Seine netting 1pm to 4pm
Cost: Free to all but bring your wellies
Beckton Nature Reserve to open up for Tidefest
We’re going to open the Thames Water Beckton Nature Reserve.
Activities include:
- Half-hour walks of the nature reserve on the hour, every hour
- A 1.5hr bird watching walk at midday through the nature reserve and down to the mouth of the River Roding at low tide
- Crafts for kids including bird box assembling and painting; making wildlife masks
- Mini-beasting for kids (and adults!)
Venue: Attendees should head for the Showcase Cinema car park in Jenkins Lane, Barking, IG11 0AD from where the event will signposted (a 5-10 minute walk)
Times: 10am-3pm
Booking: Just turn up.
Cost: FREE OF CHARGE
Join the Wandle Trust (part of the South East Rivers Trust) and the Friends of Ravensbury Park for a river cleanup on Sunday 10th September.
Meeting place: Ravensbury Park, check the Wandle Trust website at to see the exact meeting spot.
Time: 11am to 3pm
What to expect: Volunteers will be invited to borrow a pair of chest waders and clear rubbish from the river, or litter pick around the park.
What to wear: Old clothes you don’t mind getting muddy, and working footwear such as boots or wellies.
What to bring: Bring along a packed lunch and Teas & Coffees will be supplied.
More information: Call Polly on 0833 497599 or email cleanups@wandletrust.org
50 peg Thames Tideway Angling Championship
The Thames Tideway Angling Championship has been a huge success in recent years with weights of 30lb plus winning the match and over 30 anglers competing. 2017 looks like being the biggest and best yet so get yourself booked in !
We will be fishing three zones this year; the gravel foreshore downstream of Kew Bridge on the north bank, and below Chiswick road bridge and Barnes railway bridge on the south, where there are large shoals of roach, dace and bream. Waders are essential and wading up to thigh depth is allowed within the confines of your peg. All species can be weighed in except eels. The use of an easily moveable platform or tripod is advised as you will be following the tide down. The details are below and further information will be circulated nearer the time. Good luck!
Date and Time: Sunday September 10th – Fishing 9.00 am – 2.00 pm (depending on tides)
Draw: 7.00 am Strand on the Green, Kew Bridge, London W4 3RE
Tides at Kew Bridge: High – 6.06 am. Low – 1.52 pm
THIS MATCH IS NOW SOLD OUT
For a round-up of last years event click the link below
https://thamestidefest.net/2016/10/18/tidefest-angling-championship-produces-fantastic-results/
Family Fishing Event
Do you fancy a day out with the family with lots of different fun activities ?
Would you like to introduce a member of your family or a friend to fishing ?
Maybe you are a beginner or an existing angler looking to brush up on your skills ?
The get along to the Thames Water Family Fishing Day run in collaboration with Get Hooked on Fishing and The Angling Trust. All sessions are Free with fishing tackle provided and instruction from our friendly licensed coaches, plus loads of other activities for anglers and non anglers alike.
Sep 10th – 11.00am – 4pm
Thames Water’s Walthamstow Angling Academy, N17 9NH
For more information cal Sam Edmonds on 07548737624 or email sam.edmonds@ghof.org.uk
What’s New For Tidefest ’17
Each year TideFest gets bigger and better. Although we are based at Kew Bridge we want people to enjoy and learn about as many of the wonders of Thames Tideway as possible. As well as our usual river based events we’ve lined up these additions to the programme:
Low Tide River Wade in Deptford Creek
A guided adventure in Deptford Creek for adults and accompanied children ages 9+. Wade in a wild river and experience a different perspective of London history and urban wildlife. Led by an experienced conservationist we guarantee you some good, clean, muddy fun!
Lea Navigation Reedbed Boat Tours
Thames21 has been working to improve the River Lea for the last five years, to provide new reedbeds and great habitat for wildlife. Join them on board the ‘Alfred Le Roy’ for a relaxed trip on the river with commentary from their knowledgeable project officers.
A Plastic Ocean – Film Screening
Watch a new adventure documentary that brings to light the consequences of our global disposable lifestyle. An international team go on a mission around the globe to uncover the shocking truth about what is lurking beneath the surface of our seemingly pristine seas. Watch the trailer below.
See the Tidefest ’17 Preview Video
Thames TideFest will be back in Chiswick for its fourth year on Sunday 10th September 2017. This hugely popular community event requires months of planning and co-ordination between charities, businesses and Thames boroughs. The team at Chiswick Buzz caught up with the organisers during their meeting at One Over The Ait pub to find out what the festival has to offer this year.
CLICK THE PICTURE TO GO TO THE VIDEO
For more about Thames Tidefest and the events that will make 10th September so special click HERE
Fishing Events
50 peg Thames Tideway Angling Championship
The Thames Tideway Angling Championship has been a huge success in recent years with weights of 30lb plus winning the match and over 30 anglers competing. 2017 looks like being the biggest and best yet so get yourself booked in !
We will be fishing three zones this year; the gravel foreshore downstream of Kew Bridge on the north bank, and below Chiswick road bridge and Barnes railway bridge on the south, where there are large shoals of roach, dace and bream. Waders are essential and wading up to thigh depth is allowed within the confines of your peg. All species can be weighed in except eels. The use of an easily moveable platform or tripod is advised as you will be following the tide down. The details are below and further information will be circulated nearer the time. Good luck!
Date and Time: Sunday September 10th – Fishing 9.00 am – 2.00 pm (depending on tides)
Draw: 7.00 am Strand on the Green, Kew Bridge, London W4 3RE
Tides at Kew Bridge: High – 6.06 am. Low – 1.52 pm
THIS MATCH IS NOW SOLD OUT
For a round-up of last years event click the link below
https://thamestidefest.net/2016/10/18/tidefest-angling-championship-produces-fantastic-results/
Family Fishing Event
Do you fancy a day out with the family with lots of different fun activities ?
Would you like to introduce a member of your family or a friend to fishing ?
Maybe you are a beginner or an existing angler looking to brush up on your skills ?
The get along to the Thames Water Family Fishing Day run in collaboration with Get Hooked on Fishing and The Angling Trust. All sessions are Free with fishing tackle provided and instruction from our friendly licensed coaches, plus loads of other activities for anglers and non anglers alike.
Sep 10th – 11.00am – 4pm
Thames Water’s Walthamstow Angling Academy, N17 9NH
For more information cal Sam Edmonds on 07548737624 or email sam.edmonds@ghof.org.uk
Tidefest Angling Championship Produces Fantastic Results !
32 anglers fished at Barnes and Strand on The Green and despite hot sunny conditions and the presence of over 2000 people enjoying walks, paddleboarding, kayaking, river cruises or simply strolling along the towpath, the bream fed well.
There were three weights of over 30lbs with the winner, Martin Davies landing 46.11 of bream up to 8lbs plus from SoTG. Second with the top weight at Barnes was Ricky Tomala with 32.11 followed by Steve Edwards with 30.09 then Gordon Bullock with 20.8.
All in all it was a fantastic event that not only produced brilliant fishing, but also showcased the joys of fishing the tidal Thames to huge numbers of people.
The top four shared a £1000 pay out.
The event is sponsored by Tideway – formerly Thames Tideway Tunnel – and Thames Water and the match organised by the Angling Trust with support from Will Barnard, Angling development manger at TW