Tag Archives: Thames Tidefest 2020

London Mudlarker Lara Maiklem to hold book signing at this year’s Tidefest

London’s Mudlarker and best selling author, Lara Maiklem, will be at this year’s Tidefest on September 12th leading two foreshore walks and signing copies of her new book ‘A Field Guide to Larking’. This is a brilliant opportunity to meet the author and get your hands on a rare signed edition !

The book itself is a practical, interactive and inspiring guide to ‘larking’ – meaning to get out and about, to explore the world around us and to discover the little treasures hiding in plain sight. In this beautiful field guide, Lara teaches us how to lark for ourselves. There are maps and charts, tips and lists, and colour illustrations throughout to help identify finds. From tide tables for mudlarkers to a flint guide for fieldlarkers, this book is richly informative and yet small enough to pop in a pocket. Lara Maiklem has become synonymous with “Mudlarking” along the Thames foreshore and her first book, Mudlarking, was published in 2019 and quickly became a best seller.  

Lara’s two walks are already sold out but she is looking forward to meeting Thames enthusiasts at her book signing at the Strand on the Green Embankment between 12.00 and 1.30pm.

Lara says:

“Tidefest is my favourite river festival,  a proper chance to get hands on with the Thames in a beautiful setting.”

Tidefest is now in its 8th year and celebrates the recreational opportunities available on the River Thames in London withactivities for all the family. These include boats trips, paddle boarding, kayaking, foreshore walks, island visits, London’s biggest angling competition and much more.

Local wildlife organisations, river and environmental groups and community associations have been involved in organising  Tidefest since its inception in 2014. It is part of the month long Totally Thames Festival and is sponsored by Thames Water with support from the London Borough of Hounslow, Port of London Authority and the Environment Agency.

Visitors can enjoy river dipping with experts to discover what lives in the Thames or find some hidden corners with trips to the historic Oliver’s Island or the Eel Pie Island museum – celebrating the 60s music venue which saw the start of the careers of Eric Clapton and The Rolling Stones.

Full details including ticket bookings can be found at www.thamestidefest.net and on our Facebook page.

Tidefest Chairman Martin Salter from the Angling Trust said:

Tidefest is now a well-established annual event with a loyal band of followers who turn out every year.  It is an event which aims to help reconnect Londoners with their river and we do this by getting into and onto the water through a whole range of educational and recreational activities. I’m so pleased that Lara Maiklem is joining us once again to give us the benefit of her great knowledge of the history of this wonderful river that has enhanced and sustained our capital city for generations.  Please put September 12th in your diary and visit our website to find out what the River Thames has to offer.”

                                                         Come and Enjoy the River!

Covid-19 Statement

COVID-19

This year’s Thames Tidefest has been reduced in scale to comply with the government’s coronavirus regulations and to keep everyone safe. There will be no stalls, food or live music and all activity events are to be pre-booked either online or at the information tent on the day. Hand sanitisers and wipes will be available and social distancing rules will be applied. However there will still be lots of happy smiling faces and a chance to enjoy the beautiful tidal Thames.


How you can help: Please help us keep everybody safe by bringing your own masks – for use where appropriate- and adhering to instructions on our signage. Do not attend if you, or anyone you have been in contact with, in the last 14 days has had any Covid-19 symptoms. Please adhere to social distancing and try to keep no less than 2 metres away from anyone who is not from your household or support bubble. Most of all please be curteous to others and have fun.

Oliver’s Island Trips Tickets Go On Sale

Unique opportunity to explore a secret Thames island !

Come and explore a secret island that is in full view as you walk along the towpath and yet out of sight. Oliver’s island is shrouded in mystery as well as trees and yet was a very important participant in the trading along the Thames over the past few hundred years. Come and see the view from its banks, explore its history both ancient and more recent, and hear about its environmental importance. Number have been limited this year to allow social distancing.

Transport by guided Kayak’s

Times: 09.00 Group 1; 09.30 Group 2; 10.00 Group 3; 10.30 Group 4; 11.00 Group 5.

Meet: Kew Rail bridge ramp – under the railway bridge and between City Barge and Bull’s Head pubs.

Conditions:

Each group will consist of 6 people

The trips are unsuitable for those under 16 and for those with mobility issues..

Please wear suitable footwear such as boots or trainers.

Tidefest Is Back On !

Following the easing of the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions Thames Tidefest 2020 will be happening on Sunday September 6th at Strand on the Green, Chiswick. However, to help keep everyone safe, all events in our reduced programme will have to be pre- booked.

Tidefest is now in its 7th year and celebrates the recreational opportunities available on the River Thames in London with activities for all the family. These include paddle boarding, kayaking, foreshore walks, island visits, London’s biggest angling competition and much more.

Put the date in your diary and find out what the River Thames has to offer.

Full details including ticket bookings will be on this website SOON

updates on our Facebook page

Come and Enjoy the River!

Tidefest Coronavirus Update

THAMES TIDEFEST 2020 and COVID-19

Whilst we hope that this year’s event will still be able to proceed, in the light of the current situation and following government guide lines we are putting planning for Tidefest 2020 on hold for the moment.  Hopefully things will be clearer in a few weeks time and we can make a more accurate assessment of what activities might be possible. We don’t anticipate that the angling competition or some of the other outdoor activities will be affected but we are keeping everything under review.

In the meantime keep well stay safe.

Tidefest Team

Tidefest 2020 set to be bigger and better yet !

Now in it’s 6th year, Thames Tidefest 2020 is set to be the bigger and better than ever before. Dubbed “London’s Family River Festival”, Tidefest offers an eclectic mix of free and low cost events centred around the River Thames in London.

Live music, paddlesports, river cruises, riverside pubs, secret island adventures, historical walks, guided photography sessions, Rock ‘n Roll history, stalls, fishing, river dipping, Film events and much, much more and all with an environmental feel, Tidefest is an event for the whole family and one that won’t put a dent in your pocket.

Much of the Festival is absolutely free, just come along to Strand On The Green  in Chiswick on September 6th and join in the fun.

We’d love to meet you at Thames Tidefest, so get September 6th in your diary and please come along and let’s all enjoy the river together !