Brentford and Isleworth MP Ruth Cadbury has announced that not only will she will be attending this Tidefest but that she plans to take to the water and have ago at kayaking.
Tidefest is annual event to celebrate the recreational importance of the Thames Tideway to Londoners. It is based at Strand on the Green, Chiswick and other locations along the tideway from 10am to 6pm and is a day packed with loads of great activities for all the family.
There’s paddleboarding, kayaking, river dipping, guided foreshore walks, boat trips, an angling competition, nature reserve visits, artists displays, seine netting, live fish tanks, museum discounts, children’s games, stalls, music, refreshments and much, much more.
Ruth Cadbury said:
‘ We are so lucky to have the Thames on our doorstep and Tidefest is our opportunity to celebrate all that this means; Sport, nature, a transport route and a beautiful landscape. Kayaking and paddle-boarding are two sports I have been able to learn since being here. They’re fun, easy to pick up and you don’t need to be particularly fit! I look forward to seeing people coming down to try them out at this year’s Tidefest.’
Peter Hughes from Edge Paddling added:
“Kayaking is one of the best ways to enjoy the Thames, and Kew Bridge is one of the very best locations to launch from. Our Club is very social and thrives on an equal mix of men and women. We welcome people of all skill levels, and TideFest is a great opportunity for the public to try a free taster session.”
On the Foreshore at Strand-on-the-Green there will be children’s activities including river dipping, water testing and games designed to explain and increase understanding of what’s going on in the river run by the environmental charity Thames21.
There’s a series of highly informative archaeological tours of Oliver’s Island at Strand-on-the-Green. These fascinating walks will be led by archaeologists Dr Fiona Haughey and Mike Webber. There will also be other foreshore walks and a tour of the historic Lots Ait boatyard at Brentford which is hosting an exhibition of boat building on the Thames. Booking through the website at www.thamestidefest.net
The River Thames Society is organising four hour-long boat trips around the Thames Tideway islands, leaving from Kew Pier on the historic Thames launch the Windrush. Guided commentary included. Trips leave at 11.00am, 12.15pm, 1.30pm and 2.45pm but advance booking essential
TideFest organiser Martin Salter from the Angling Trust said:
“TideFest is now an established annual event that is growing in popularity and which aims to help reconnect Londoners with their river. The Thames holds over 120 different species of fish and is home to a tremendous array of birds and other wildlife yet far too few people are aware of what an amazing resource we have in the heart of our capital city.”
TideFest is supported by the Thames Tunnel Now Coalition with sponsorship from Thames Tideway, Fullers and Thames Water. All activities are either free or offered at a substantially reduced rate.