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.
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
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
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.
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
This years event was definitely the best Tidefest yet, with huge numbers of people getting involved, more events, more fun and lots of sunshine on the beautiful River Thames. Thankfully our friends at Chiswick Buzz were there to record the whole event and they have put together a fantastic video that really captures the joy and atmosphere of the day. Click the link below and have fun watching !
Brentford and Isleworth MP Ruth Cadbury has announced that not only will she will be attending this Tidefest but that she plans to take to the water and have ago at kayaking.
Ruth Cadbury paddle boarding at TideFest 2015
Tidefest is annual event to celebrate the recreational importance of the Thames Tideway to Londoners. It is based at Strand on the Green, Chiswick and other locations along the tideway from 10am to 6pm and is a day packed with loads of great activities for all the family.
There’s paddleboarding, kayaking, river dipping, guided foreshore walks, boat trips, an angling competition, nature reserve visits, artists displays, seine netting, live fish tanks, museum discounts, children’s games, stalls, music, refreshments and much, much more.
No experience required ! Tidesfest provides an amazing opportunity for complete novices to find themselves afloat on the tidal Thames !
Ruth Cadbury said:
‘ We are so lucky to have the Thames on our doorstep and Tidefest is our opportunity to celebrate all that this means; Sport, nature, a transport route and a beautiful landscape. Kayaking and paddle-boarding are two sports I have been able to learn since being here. They’re fun, easy to pick up and you don’t need to be particularly fit! I look forward to seeing people coming down to try them out at this year’s Tidefest.’
Peter Hughes from Edge Paddling added:
“Kayaking is one of the best ways to enjoy the Thames, and Kew Bridge is one of the very best locations to launch from. Our Club is very social and thrives on an equal mix of men and women. We welcome people of all skill levels, and TideFest is a great opportunity for the public to try a free taster session.”
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.
There’s a series of highly informative archaeological tours of Oliver’s Island at Strand-on-the-Green. These fascinating walks will be led by archaeologists Dr Fiona Haughey and Mike Webber. There will also be other foreshore walks and a tour of the historic Lots Ait boatyard at Brentford which is hosting an exhibition of boat building on the Thames. Booking through the website at www.thamestidefest.net
Lot’s Ait Boatyard
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 included. Trips leave at 11.00am, 12.15pm, 1.30pm and 2.45pm but advance booking essential
TideFest organiser Martin Salter from the Angling Trust said:
“TideFest is now an established annual event that is growing in popularity and which aims to help reconnect Londoners with their river. The Thames holds over 120 different species of fish and is home to a tremendous array of birds and other wildlife yet far too few people are aware of what an amazing resource we have in the heart of our capital city.”
Martin Salter at last year Tidefest
TideFest is supported by the Thames Tunnel Now Coalition with sponsorship from Tideway, Fullers and Thames Water. All activities are either free or offered at a substantially reduced rate
Martin Salter – (Angling Trust and organizer) 07976946033
Ian Tokelove – (London Wildlife Trust) 07834867420
Peter Hughes – (Edge Paddling) 07900 895237
Picture: Ruth Cadbury MP Paddleboarding on the Thames at last year’s TideFest
Photocall: 12 noon Sunday Sept 11th with Ruth Cadbury MP Kayaking from Kew Bridge with Edge Paddling
Notes:
Tidefest partners: Active 360, Angling Trust, Brentford FC Community Sports Trusts, Edge Paddling, Get Hooked on Fishing, London Wildlife Trust, River Thames Society, RSPB, Strand on the Green Assoc, Strand on the Green Sailing Club, Thames 21, Thames Tunnel Now, Thames Anglers Conservancy, Totally Thames, Port of London Authority.
It’s back and it’s bigger and better than ever ! Tidefest ’18 will be held on September 2nd and it’s set to be even more spectacular than last year !
TideFest is fast becoming one of the most popular annual events in London. The River Thames event which took place for the first time in 2014 to highlight the recreational importance of the Thames to Londoners and to encourage people to ‘enjoy the river’. TideFest 2018 takes place at Strand-on-the-Green in Chiswick and at Brentford, Barnes and other locations along the Thames Tideway, as part of the month long Totally Thames festival.
A wide range of activities have been planned from 9am to 7pm on Sunday 2nd September at either free or heavily subsidised rates including:
Tidesfest Fishing Match
Canoeing
Stand-Up Paddleboarding
Sailing
Boat trips
Secret Island Visits
Archeological walks
Historical Tours
Have a go activities
Eco events
And much, much more !
Activities and events will be available to book online soon.
Wildlife organisations, river and environmental groups and community associations have this week announced plans for the third TideFest to be held on the tidal Thames in London on Sunday September 11th
TideFest is a relatively new River Thames event which took place for the first time in 2014 to highlight the recreational importance of the Thames to Londoners and to encourage people to ‘enjoy the river’. TideFest 2016 takes place at Strand-on-the-Green in Chiswick and at Brentford, Barnes and other locations along the Thames Tideway, as part of the month long Totally Thames festival.
A wide range of activities have been planned from 9am to 7pm on Sunday 11th September at either free or heavily subsidised rates including:
Stand Up Paddleboarding on the Thames. Active 360 will be running pre-booked 50 minute supervised sessions at Kew Bridge from 11am to 4pm for those new to paddleboarding, at just £10 per person. There will also be a mass paddle from Kew to Putney starting at 2pm in aid of the charity Water Aid.
Stand-up Paddleboarding is awesome fun
Try free Kayak Taster Sessions with Edge Paddling at Kew Bridge. Newcomers can simply turn up from 12 noon to 6pm and try kayaking on the Thames with qualified coaches. Must be 12 years or over. A free prize draw is included, with three free club memberships worth £96 on offer.
A day out at Thames Water’s Hogsmill nature rserve at Kingston. This is a special opportunity to visit a nature reserve that is part of an operational sewage works and normally closed to the public. There will be opportunities to try bird watching with local experts, bird house building, honey tasting with the Kingston Bee Keeping Association and wildlife face painting. Light refreshments will be available.
A whole range of 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, historical artefacts collected by local archivists, paintings by local artists, children’s activities and an information point with material available from environmental and the Port of London Authority. London Wildlife Trust will also be on hand 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.
The prestigious Thames Tideway Angling Championship takes place from 11am to 4pm at Strand on the Green and Barnes. 40 top anglers from across the UK will be taking part and spectators are welcome. Last year the first prize went to Andriks Lekstutis who caught fish with a combined weight of over 31lbs (14kg) at Strand-on-the-Green – demonstrating just how healthy the river now is. All fish are returned to the river unharmed.
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.
A series of highly informative archaeological tours of Oliver’s Island will be held at Strand-on-the-Green. These fascinating walks will be led by archaeologists Dr Fiona Haughey and Mike Webber. For those aged over 16 only. Please wear sensible footwear. 11.00am, 11.15am, 11.30am, 12.00pm, 12.15pm, 12.30pm. There will also be other foreshore walks and a tour of the historic Lots Ait boatyard.
Kew Bridge from Strand on the Green, Chiswick – home to TideFest 2016
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 included. Trips leave at 11.00am, 12.15pm, 1.30pm and 2.45pm (advance booking essential)
All activities can be booked via the TideFest website from August 1st onwards
Gordon Scorer, Chief Executive of London Wildlife Trust said:
Gordon Scorer CEO of London Wildlife Trust
“TideFest is a great opportunity to enjoy a day by the river with lots to see and do – both on and off the water. You can discover what lives in the river, explore the river’s archaeological history or get out on the water by boat, kayak or even Stand Up Paddleboard. The Trust will also be on hand to talk about London’s wildlife and we’d love to see you there!”
TideFest organiser Martin Salter from the Angling Trust said:
“TideFest is now an established annual event that is growing in popularity and which aims to help reconnect Londoners with their river. The Thames holds over120 different species of fish and is home to a tremendous array of birds and other wildlife yet far too few people are aware of what an amazing resource we have in the heart of our capital city. We are planning a range of new attractions this year which we hope to announce in the coming weeks.”
TideFest is supported by the Thames Tunnel Now Coalition with sponsorship from Tideway, Fullers and Thames Water.
Martin Salter – (Angling Trust and organizer) 07976946033
Ian Tokelove – (London Wildlife Trust) 07834867420
Notes:
Tidefest partners: Active 360, Angling Trust, Brentford FC Community Sports Trusts, Edge Paddling, Get Hooked on Fishing, London Wildlife Trust, River Thames Society, RSPB, Strand on the Green Assoc, Strand on the Green Sailing Club, Thames 21, Thames Tunnel Now, Thames Anglers Conservancy, Totally Thames, Port of London Authority.
If you didn’t manage to get to Tidefest 2015 you really missed out because last years event was simply awesome !
Paddle boarding, canoeing, fishing, sailing, trips to secret islands, guided walks, nature reserve tours, boats trips and so much more packed the day with fun and excitement for more visitors than ever before. All centred around Chiswick, Kew, Brentford, Barnes, Isleworth and Kempton.
TideFest is now a key date in the London diary and has become a wonderful celebration of the fascinating tidal River Thames. The event which took place for the first time in 2014 highlights the recreational importance of the Thames to Londoners.
TideFest 2016 will take place on Sunday September 11th at Strand on the Green, Chiswick and at other locations along the Thames Tideway so get it in your diary NOW !
Tidefest is for everyone..make sure you get along to our 2016 event.
TideFest is proud to be a partner of Totally Thames and to be supported by the Thames Tunnel Now Coalition, Thames Tideway Tunnel and Thames Water.
An even wider range of activities are currently being planned for Tidefest 2016 so keep checking back for news !
