Royal River Is Returning to Glory

Launching a five-million-dollar restoration project will support wildlife and provide healthier environments for people in and around the River Thames.

“This intricate tapestry of habitats provides a home and nursery grounds to an abundance of native wildlife, from Critically Endangered European eels and ‘superhero’ water filtering oysters, to much beloved species like porpoises, seahorses, and lapwings,” says Anna Cucknell, Zoological Society of London’s UK Coastal Habitat Recovery Program Manager.

Transforming the Thames aims to support all the wildlife that call the Thames River home and the eight million people that frequent it, with improved access to nature and better protection against climate change impacts. Key wildlife habitats, including native oyster beds, seagrass meadows, salt marshes, saline lagoons, and bird nesting areas, will be restored. To achieve this, 19 organizations will be working in a joint effort to restore the Thames to its former glory. “I’m feeling optimistic about the future of the Thames,” adds Alan Johnson, Regional Manager with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.