Tidefest returns to celebrate the River Thames

Thames Water volunteers are getting ready to welcome visitors to Thames Tidefest 2021.  

The annual festival, which is sponsored by Thames Water, celebrates the recreational opportunities the River Thames has to offer local communities and encourages people and families to try the different activities and sports available.  

The festival, now in its eight year, is taking place on Sunday September 12 around Kew Bridge and Strand On The Green. Pre-booked activities on offer include river dipping, where visitors can explore the wildlife living in the Thames, foreshore walks and boat cruises. Visitors can also book and try out navigating the River on kayaks and paddleboards 

The festival will host London’s biggest angling competition and visitors can book guided trips to the historical Oliver’s Island near Kew. London’s Mudlarker and best-selling author, Lara Maiklem, will also be at this year’s Tidefest, leading two foreshore walks and signing copies of her new book ‘A Field Guide to Larking’. 

Rosemary Waugh, Thames Water’s corporate responsibility manager, said: “Being a part of Tidefest is a fantastic way to give back to the communities we serve and highlight the amazing nature they can find on their doorsteps. I’m so excited to see the festival’s return this year and the fun activities on offer for visitors and families.  

“Protecting and enhancing the environment in London is extremely important to us and we’re investing in our network and innovative ways to help us become a carbon negative business by 2040, so we meet the needs of our customers and their communities for years to come.” 

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. Please put September 12th in your diary and visit our website to find out what the River Thames has to offer.” 

More information about Thames Tidefest, the free and paid-for activities on offer and information on how to book them. 

Thames Water has been involved in the Tidefest festival since it started in 2014 and volunteers from the company attend each year to help manage the activities and information stalls.  

Last month Thames Water launched the ‘Live Wild’ campaign to encourage customers to visit its public access wetlands, reservoirs, and nature reserves, such as Walthamstow Wetlands. To learn more about the campaign and where customers can ‘Live Wild’ in London, visit Thames Water’s Great days out webpage.  

Thames Water is co-funding an ambitious new £1.2 million project to help more Londoners enjoy the benefits of nature on their doorstep. The Grow Back Greener fund will provide grants to dozens of projects to improve access to green spaces in some of the capital’s most deprived areas - and tackle the effects of climate change.