07.08.2006

Charity urges London to help clean up one of the Thames’s worst beaches

Thames21 Media Release

Charity urges London to help clean up one of the Thames’s worst beaches

A leading waterways charity is calling for volunteers to support a 5-day litter blitz on one of the most littered stretches of Thames foreshore in the Isle of Dogs, East London.

The Cleaner Thames Challenge takes place from Friday September 8 until Tuesday September 12 and marks the biggest clean up in environmental charity Thames21’s ten year history.

The magnificent River Thames is one of London’s greatest natural icons and the charity is urging everyone, from individuals to big business, to put something back by helping out at the Cleaner Thames Challenge.

MP for Poplar and Canning Town, and Thames21 volunteer Jim Fitzpatrick said, ‘The importance of cleaner, safer and greener spaces to the well being of the local community and beyond can’t be overstated. By volunteering at Thames21’s Cleaner Thames Challenge, you will be showing how much more we can achieve if we all pitch in together.’

The charity has deemed this stretch of Thames foreshore one of London’s worst beaches. It is appealing for hundreds of volunteers to help remove large amounts of litter including thousands of plastic bags which can kill local wildlife and marine life as well as driving people away from this Thames beach.

Thames21’s Chief Executive Debbie Leach added, ‘Thames21 invites London to step up to the challenge and help restore this Thames beach to good health. Actions speak louder than words, and every single minute you can spare will make a difference as well as helping to spread the message that we must stop rubbishing our river.’

Event Details: If you arrive at the latest time stated you will have at least 30 minutes on the foreshore.)

Friday 8 September between 7:30am – 10:00am

Saturday 9 September between 8:00am – 10:30am

Sunday 10 September between 8:45am – 11:45am

Monday 11 September between 9:30am – 12:00pm

Tuesday 12 September between 10:00am –12:30pm

Kitting and meeting up point for all volunteers:

Thames21 marquee at the slipway by Poplar Rowing Club, Ferry Street, E14

Nearest Transport: Island Gardens DLR

Event contact: Matthew Loveday 07920 230 970 / Vic Richardson 07973 442 219

For press enquiries contact Leigh McAlea 020 7213 0166 / 07875 250 284

To register your interest visit www.thames21.org.uk/news/cleanerthameschallenge_06.html