Talk of the Thames

What changes when you see London from the water? In this episode of Talk of the Thames, Chloe Russell speaks with author and paddleboarder Anu Aladin ( @mysupstories ) about her new book Paddle London - a guide to 40 paddle routes across London’s rivers, canals, docks and reservoirs. After more than a decade of paddling in the capital, Anu describes the Thames as a place of local adventure, hidden...

The Thames is a time capsule—and mudlarks are the storytellers. Join Chloe at the London Museum for Secrets of the Thames: Mudlarking London’s Lost Treasures. With curators Kate Sumnall and Thomas Ardill, we uncover extraordinary objects lost and found on the foreshore, from ancient tools to modern relics. A must-listen for history lovers, Londoners, and anyone curious about what the river reveals...

Step into the world’s first public Spilhaus projection ocean map with presenter Chloe Russell in this special World Ocean Day episode of Talk of the Thames . Recorded at the newly reopened Ocean Hall at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, this episode features an immersive walking interview with curators Tim May and Aimee Mook. Together, they explore ocean literacy, underwater ecosystems, a...

In this special Talk of the Thames episode for World Eel Day , presenter Chloe Russell is joined by Andrew Kerr , Chairman of the Sustainable Eel Group , to uncover one of the most extraordinary and mysterious stories in the natural world — the life cycle and survival of the European eel ( Anguilla anguilla ). 🧭 From diving deeper than nuclear submarines to travelling 7,000km without eating, eels...

This episode is the second in our new panel discussion series People of the Thames on Talk of the Thames , where we explore how different communities work, create, and engage with the river. Hosted by Chloe Russell, this series brings together experts, storytellers, and practitioners whose lives and work are directly tied to the Thames. In this panel, recorded aboard the working Theatreship in Can...

This episode marks the launch of a new panel discussion series People of the Thames on Talk of the Thames , where we explore how different communities work, create, and engage with the river. Hosted by Chloe Russell, this series brings together experts, storytellers, and practitioners whose lives and work are directly tied to the Thames. Episode 1: People of the Thames: Working on the River In thi...

Welcome to a special episode of Talk of Thames with your host, Chloe Russell. This week, we're taking you on an exclusive boat trip along the iconic River Thames, recorded live during the Totally Thames Festival 2023. Join our expert guides—Amy Pryor, Technical Director of Thames Estuary Partnership, Fisheries Expert Steve Colclough, and Thames Archaeologist Fiona Haughey—as they delve into t...

Welcome back to the second part of our captivating journey beneath the surface of the Thames Estuary. In this episode, we're joined by a true guardian of these waters, Steve Colclough, Fisheries Scientist and Chair of the Estuarine & Marine Specialist Section at the Institute of Fisheries Management (IFM). We've moved our discussion from the riverbank to the riverside at Battersea Re...

Welcome to the first part of our exhilarating journey, as we delve into the thriving underwater world beneath the Thames Estuary. Our adventure begins at Battersea Reach, just east of the River Wandle's mouth, where TEP's Data and Training Manager Wanda Bodnar guides us through the essential work being carried out in this unique estuarine environment. We start by uncovering the significa...

Welcome back to another episode of Talk of the Thames. In this episode, we dive into the captivating world of sustainable living and explore ideas that can improve lives and inspire action with renowned environmentalist and author, Dr. Jules Pretty.  ​​In an era marked by interconnected crises of climate change, inequality, biodiversity loss and food-related health issues, Jules Pretty presents a...

Welcome back to a truly immersive episode of "Talk of the Thames"! On this special occasion of World Ocean Day, join us on a captivating journey along the River Thames, as we explore the beauty and wonder of London from the perspective of a paddleboarder. To achieve the full benefit of this immersive episode, we highly recommend listening to this episode with headphones on, in a quiet pl...

In this episode of Talk of the Thames, Sustainability Director Richard Aylard discusses his journey, the Thames Tideway Tunnel project and Thames Water's global efforts to combat climate change. Welcome back to another episode of Talk of the Thames where we are thrilled to have Richard Aylard, the Sustainability Director at Thames Water , as our special guest.  In this interview, we will be d...

Back after a short break, we bring Giles Tofield to the stage to talk to us about his work at The Cultural Engine . In this episode we explore what projects The Cultural Engine have worked on, including the North Thames Fisheries Local Action Group (NTFLAG) programme which TEP was involved in; what the future has in store; and the value of storytelling within community and local economy led projec...

What is the Blue Connections project? In todays episode we're joined by our Technical Director Amy Pryor, Data and Training Manager Wanda Bodnar, and Learning and Engagement Manager Yomi Odunlami, who are leading the project. Find out how and why Blue Connections arose within Thames Estuary Partnership and how they plan to unveil the project to new participants.  To find out more information...

Come and join us for an immersive guided walk around the Greenwich Peninsula as we explore the lesser-known environmental past and present of London's famous river. Your guides are Thames Estuary Partnership's Data & Training Manager Wanda Bodnar and Technical Director Amy Pryor. This episode was recorded on 17th September on our ' A short intro to the Thames Estuary - guided wa...

Have you noticed people on the foreshore of the River Thames with their heads down searching for something? Have you ever wondered what they could possibly find? In this episode we address what this activity is - it is none other than mudlarking! And we have none other than River Thames mudlarking enthusiast Lara Maiklem telling us about all things mudlarking. Lara is a British author, editor and...

Join us for another exciting episode of Talk of The Thames where we chat with Kelly Sporn, Sustainability Lawyer and  Post Graduate Student at Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership. In this conversation we learn about what Kelly gets up to as a Sustainability Lawyer, how she became interested in the field, and the challenges she and other Sustainability Lawyers face. We also learn about...

Have you heard of the term 'blue mind'? Perhaps it's something you are all too familiar with unconsciously, and never thought about before. Do you enjoy being in, around, near, or under water? There is ample amount of research telling us why that could be the case. Join us as we speak with Author Dr. Wallace J Nichols about his research of why being around water makes us happier and...

Join us for a special episode released on World Fish Migration Day about The Thames Catchment Community Eels Project . We are joined by six organisations in total, Thames Rivers Trust who led the project, Action for the River Kennet , South East Rivers Trust , Thames21 , Zoological Society of London and Thames Estuary Partnership .  This huge collaboration was driven to aid the long-term survival...

On today’s episode we’re joined by Jesse Seaward, Partner at Band Agency and Ollie Jackson, Co-Founder of 100 Tons of Plastic and son of ex-fisherman Merlin Jackson, as they discuss their recent project of promoting a local fish species as part of Fish Local. This discussion includes all the project’s processes including the selection process, finding the most sustainable and highest yield species...

Join us as celebrate the successes of Thames Estuary Partnership's Executive Director Heather Hilburn, as she has been awarded the Royal Institute of British Architects Honorary Fellowships Award 2022.  "This award is given to individuals who are recognised for outstanding achievements and thought leadership in the natural and built environments, including urban regeneration, culture, de...

What lives in the Thames? From the things we can see like seals and crabs to the invisible elements like oxygen and nitrate. Find out why the Thames has that signature brown colour and why it is actually a good thing! This episode is all about the recently published State of the Thames Report 2021 by the Zoological Society of London and we are greeted with the lovely and knowledgeable Alison Debne...

Join us as Amy Pryor, Technical Director at the Thames Estuary Partnership, talks to Kristen Guida, Manager at the London Climate Change Partnership about what impacts we can expect climate change to have in London, and beyond, as well as their hopes and vision for COP26 before the event took place. 

Join fisheries expert Steve Colclough as he discusses the fish species found in the nets at Point Wharf Estuary Edges site.

It's September. There's regattas everywhere. That can only mean one thing... It's Totally Thames time! Totally Thames is a month long festival celebrating the River Thames with arts events, active adventures, environmental initiatives, heritage and education programmes. In this months episode, our guest is Adrian Evans, founder and now director of the Thames Festival Trust.