London Rivers Week | Thames 21

London Rivers Week turns 10 this year, and we are celebrating with a special episode. Liz Gyekye, Communications Manager at Thames 21, joins host Michael Shilling to talk about the festival, the charity's work protecting the River Thames and its tributaries, and how you can get involved.Running from 23 to 31 May as part of the London Walking Festival, London Rivers Week features around 40 events across the capital, from guided riverside walks and low-tide explorations to citizen science surveys and family creative days.We talk about how Thames 21 has evolved from pulling shopping trolleys out of rivers in the 1990s to running large-scale restoration projects and water quality monitoring. Liz shares the story behind the successful campaign to ban plastic wet wipes, backed by 142,000 wet wipes collected from the Thames foreshore over five years. We also discuss wildlife surprises in the tidal Thames, favourite London rivers including the Wandle and the Hogsmill, the water vole reintroduction near Tolworth, and what individuals can do to make a difference.Events are filling up fast. Visit thames21.org.uk for the full programme.Links: London Rivers Week 2026: thames21.org.uk/joinacampaign/london-rivers-week-2026/ London Walking Festival: nationalparkcity.london/london-walking-festival Thames 21: thames21.org.uk London National Park City: nationalparkcity.londonExplore more London National Park City Podcasts