04.12.2008

Thames21 stresses importance of environmental care

Thames21 - London's leading waterways charity - delivered its first ever practical training day on Monday 24 November, aimed at encouraging people from all over the UK to organize and deliver clean-ups on their local waterways. This was an ideal opportunity for Thames21 to stress the importance of not forgetting our environment and the wider green agenda in these times of financial uncertainty.

The day was made possible by the Keep Britain Tidy 'Big Tidy Up' Campaign and over 70 individuals attended the day free of charge. The day offered practical guidance and advice gathered from the charity's 14 years of experience in running volunteer clean-ups.

The day featured staff and guest speakers including Charlie Porter (CEO, Thames River Capital) and waterway champion Roger de Freitas who spoke of the importance of looking after our waterways.

Thames21 is considered by many to be the natural authority when it comes to encouraging community engagement with local waterways, regularly working with around 4,000 volunteers each year on London's waterways. This training day was an opportunity for Thames21 to share with others the knowledge and expertise gathered for the first time.

Debbie Leach, Chief Executive, Thames21 commented:

"Our first Training Day was a fantastic opportunity for us to share our experience and knowledge gained from these events with people from all over the UK. When disposable income is tight, we can still visit and enjoy our fabulous rivers and canals at no cost, even in London. Money can come and go, but our environment will remain throughout. Committing just our time and energy to improving our physical surroundings will ensure that we maintain our environment for everyone to enjoy and appreciate."

For more information about Thames21 visit the website (opens in a new window).