3 Rivers Clean Up is on the way – 2nd June until 23rd June

Once again Lewisham will be taking part in the 3Rivers Clean Up.  This is a three week long series of volunteering events on the Rivers Ravensbourne, Poole and Quaggy that flow through Lewisham, Greenwich and Bromley. Now in its fourth year, this unique collaboration between a number of key organisations in the area offers the chance for everyone to improve their local environment and have fun doing it.

clearing the Ravensbourne

What is involved?

  • Wear rubber (waders!)
  • Be part of a massive cleanup – clearing out rubbish and invasive plants from an entire river system
  • Learn something about rivers and the plants that grow along them
  • Discover hidden sections of river
  • See some of the best and most beautiful examples of river restoration in the world
  • Have fun and meet people – there will be a celebratory party at the end of the event

Last year the 3Rivers Clean Up engaged a total of 500 volunteers who participated in 17 public events, 4 school events and 9 corporate days. A total of 1542 work hours were spent cleaning up and managing the river network. You can see pictures from previous years’ events here. To see how Nature’s Gym helped please visit our blog pages here and here!

How to get involved

Take a look at the events calendar to find out details of event locations and contact details of the event organisers.  All equipment is provided. Just wear old clothes that you don’t mind getting a bit mucky. 

Events are free but some require pre-booking – therefore please contact the event organiser before attending a session. If there is heavy rain an event may be cancelled at short notice due to the risk of flash flooding.  Please check with the event organiser if the weather is bad.

Getting wet with the 3 Rivers Clean Up

Nature’s Gym volunteers take part in the annual 3 Rivers Clean Up

On a rainy Saturday morning a merry bunch of volunteers waded in the River Ravensbourne to clear the litter and pull up Himalayan Balsam.  Suprisingly there was very little litter and not very much Balsam.  We did find some interesting catapillas though on the way.

This clean up was part of a wider event called the 3 Rivers Clean Up in which a number of local organisations took part and helped to clean the Rivers Ravensbourne, Pool and Quaggy.  The event lasted 15 days and inclued local volunteers, schools and faith groups.  This is the third year that the 3 Rivers Clean Up has run, and it is definately making a difference. 

To view more photos of this years event please visit our Flickr site where you will also find photos of last years very successful event.

 

3 Rivers Clean Up at Brookmill Park

 

3 Rivers Clean Up is on the Way

The 3RiversCleanup is a chance to take part in the fun, friendly and FREE volunteer effort to remove Himalayan Balsam from 3 rivers in SE London. http://www.qwag.org.uk/3riverscleanup/

The 3 Rivers Clean Up

In June 2010 Lewisham Council along with London Borough of Bromley, the London Borough of Greenwich and another of other local groups spent 10 days clearing 3 of Lewisham’s Rivers (Ravensbourne, Pool and Quaggy) of the invasive species Himalayan Balsam.

Thanks to Thames 21, FSC, Glendale, Quaggy Waterways Action Group and many others for all their help. Of course BIG THANKS has to go to all the local residents who came out to help.  Local schools also got involved and while learning about rivers they also pulled a few plants themselves!

This is the second year that the event had happened and we hope that it will happen in future years. This time there was noticeably fewer plants to pull out than last year.  If this trend continues then maybe Lewisham’s waterways will be free of Himalayan Balsam – you never know!

If you took part and haven’t done so yet, please upload your photos to the Flickr site.  Or maybe you just want to browse.

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