This week saw a report by Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee on the state of English rivers. The report calls for a “step change in regulatory action, water company investment, and cross-catchment collaboration to restore rivers to good ecological health, protect biodiversity and adapt to a changing climate.” Whilst this may appear to contradict a report published as recently as last month by the Zoological Society of London entitled The State of Thames 2021 (see our newsletter of December 14), which welcomed “significant long-term improvements in water quality thanks to updated sewage treatment works”, the apparent contradictions can be quite easily explained. Whilst the Thames (and most other rivers) are healthier than they have ever been since pre-industrial times, our expectations are clearly rising. It is right for us to be dissatisfied with poor water quality, even if it is an improvement on previous generations. Someone once said “The world belongs to the discontented”.
Route News
Our first task after arriving back from our winter break was to check suspected flooding as you approach North Meadow, Cricklade. Sure enough, the path is completely under water – see cover photo. A way around is to follow cycle route 45 into Cricklade. More details are available on our Thames Path Walkers facebook group.
We’re not aware of any other floods. The source seems to be dry, as is the area around Water Hay. We are, however, having something of a cold snap. This makes for good walking as the mud is frozen!
The big news, however, is that the Thames Path has just become a little bit longer! This is because the England Coast Path has officially opened from Woolwich to the Isle of Grain in Kent, a walk of 47 miles. So the Thames Path has been extended all of 1.2 miles from the Thames Barrier to Woolwich. Woolwich is a more convenient ending point as it’s closer to transport connections than the Thames Barrier: Woolwich Dockyard railway station, Woolwich ferry and tunnel, and the Thames Clipper service at Royal Arsenal. The Thames Path extension has been absorbed into the Coast Path. The England Coast Path is opening in sections and, when complete, will be 2.795 miles.
Plans have been approved for a statue of Agatha Christie to go up in the town centre of Wallingford. There will also be a mystery trail. The famous crime writer lived on Winterbrook Road, to the south of the town. She is buried at Cholsey.
There’s been an outbreak of avian flu in the Reading and Windsor areas with 30 dead swans having been retrieved from the river. It’s the largest outbreak of Avian Flu since records began. The public have been warned not to feed ducks and swans as this may be dangerous for both birds and humans.
Last Sunday the Thames was officially blessed by priests from St Magnus the Martyr – on the left bank – and Southwark Cathedral on the right. So you have no excuses now!
A reminder that our webinars kick off tomorrow at 8pm with an Introduction to the Thames Path. This is repeated every two weeks with the intervening week focusing on one of the four sections of the Thames Path. The series concludes on 8 March. Click here to register for these free events.
Abingdon County Hall Museum started a new exhibition this Saturday: “Morland – a family business”. Morland are the brewers responsible for the Old Speckled Hen. The name was derived from a paint-speckled MG car that used to run around Abingdon referred to as Old Speckled ‘Un. Abingdon was also the home of MG cars.
South East Rivers Trust are hosting an online talk about the endangered European Eel on January 20th at 7pm. Click here to register.
Battersea Power Station is hosting a Light Festival starting January 13th until February 27th. There are six installations displayed against this fabulous building. Winter is a perfect time to tick off those London miles – especially when you can walk at night!
Reminders:
London Luminaries have published their winter virtual lecture series. These run from January 19 through to February 3 and feature Orleans House, Marble Hill, and Hogarth & Turner’s Houses, all found on the left bank near Twickenham. Tickets available here.
The Museum of London Docklands, part of the Museum of London, has a new exhibition entitled London: Port City, exploring how the port shaped the city, its people, places and language. The exhibition is free and runs until May 2022. The museum can be found close to Canary Wharf on the left bank of the Thames.
If walking on the right bank through Rotherhithe next year you might want to take a detour to the Titanic Exhibition which is at Dock X in Surrey Quays. The exhibition opened this week. Tickets available here.
And finally….
We have just returned from our first overseas journey since Covid having spent a week in the warmth of the United Arab Emirates. You can’t get much further from the Thames Path than a desert! We’re back refreshed and raring to go.
Mind how you go!
Ready to book?
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