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 nature and moving meditation. From early morning paddles under Hammersmith Bridge to fish surveys at Syon Park’s tidal meadow, this conversation explores what stand-up paddleboarding reveals about London’s waterways - and why the Thames deserves to be better protected, celebrated and understood.

Together, Chloe and Anu discuss Blue Mind, river wildlife, access to the water, responsible paddling, tides, soundscapes, safety, sewage, community, and the joy of discovering wilderness closer than you think.

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Talk of the Thames has been brought to you by the Thames Estuary Partnership https://www.thamesestuarypartnership.org/

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Produced & Presented by Chloe Russell

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.

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Talk of the Thames has been brought to you by the Thames Estuary Partnership https://www.thamesestuarypartnership.org/

Keep up to date with TEP on all platforms!
Twitter: @ThamesEstPart
Facebook: @thamesestuarypartnership
Instagram: @thamesestuarypartnership
YouTube: @thamesestuarypartnership 

Produced & Presented by Chloe Russell

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, and the power of play in environmental storytelling—from tiger sharks with cameras to coconut crabs, seagrass meadows, and underwater volcanoes.

This episode blends science communication, creative technology, and ocean advocacy to remind us that our relationship with water extends far beyond the Thames—and across the globe.

Perfect for listeners interested in: ocean science, museums, environmental storytelling, public engagement, climate communication, art-meets-science, World Ocean Day 2025.

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Talk of the Thames has been brought to you by the Thames Estuary Partnership https://www.thamesestuarypartnership.org/

Keep up to date with TEP on all platforms!
Twitter: @ThamesEstPart
Facebook: @thamesestuarypartnership
Instagram: @thamesestuarypartnership
YouTube: @thamesestuarypartnership 

Produced & Presented by Chloe Russell

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 have a life journey unlike any other.

🐍 But with their population down by over 90%, this critically endangered species is now at the heart of a major conservation fight.

Andrew and Chloe discuss:

• Why the European eel is vanishing — and what makes its lifecycle so bizarre
• The shocking global scale of illegal eel trafficking
• The real reason we can’t breed eels in labs
• How communities, classrooms, and volunteers are helping rebuild the eel’s future
• What we can do — as individuals — to make a difference

💬 Plus: why saving the eel might also save our rivers, wetlands, and water systems.

🌍 More eel content is coming!

Although World Eel Day falls on Friday 16th May, we’ll be sharing more stories, facts, and interviews beyond this week — follow us Thames Estuary Partnership and stay tuned.

🎧 Want more? Check out our earlier episode from World Fish Migration Day about the Thames Catchment Community Eels Project, where six amazing organisations came together to reconnect rivers and communities for eel recovery.

🔗 Useful links:

• sustainableeelgroup.org
• thamesestuarypartnership.org
• Thames Catchment Community Eels Project

🎙️ Subscribe to Talk of the Thames for more inspiring stories from the river’s edge.

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Talk of the Thames has been brought to you by the Thames Estuary Partnership https://www.thamesestuarypartnership.org/

Keep up to date with TEP on all platforms!
Twitter: @ThamesEstPart
Facebook: @thamesestuarypartnership
Instagram: @thamesestuarypartnership
YouTube: @thamesestuarypartnership 

Produced & Presented by Chloe Russell

#EelWeek2025 #WorldEelDay #TalkOfTheThames #EuropeanEel #RiverRestoration #WaterwaysMatter #NatureConnectivity #SustainableEelGroup #AndrewKerr #ChloeRussell #ThamesEstuaryPartnership

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 Canary Wharf, we explore the rich cultural and emotional connections people form with the Thames through art, music, history, and heritage. This is a conversation about creativity, community, and the personal stories that flow through the river’s current.

💡 What’s in this episode?

• The healing power of mudlarking and the emotional stories found in Thames treasures
• How folk songs connect us to a shared river culture
• The importance of storytelling and film in preserving community identity
• The role of art and cultural projects in deepening our relationship with the Thames

🎙️ Featuring:

🔹 Nicola White – Mudlark artist uncovering personal and historical narratives from Thames artefacts
🔹 Izzy Walter – Musician reviving folk songs and championing river heritage
🔹 Natalie Hill – Multi-BAFTA-winning filmmaker and film programmer at Theatreship
🔹 Adrian Evans – Cultural producer creating projects that connect communities through river-inspired storytelling

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Talk of the Thames has been brought to you by the Thames Estuary Partnership https://www.thamesestuarypartnership.org/

Keep up to date with TEP on all platforms!
Twitter: @ThamesEstPart
Facebook: @thamesestuarypartnership
Instagram: @thamesestuarypartnership
YouTube: @thamesestuarypartnership 

Produced & Presented by Chloe Russell

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 this first panel, we dive into the working life of the Thames—what it means to make a living on the river, preserve its heritage, and create opportunities for future generations. Recorded aboard the Theatreship, a beautifully restored vessel moored in Canary Wharf, this discussion captures the stories of those shaping the river’s future.

💡 What’s in this episode?

• The hidden world of river work—from marine restoration to skills training
• How the Thames connects people, past and present, through heritage and conservation
• The importance of creating opportunities for the next generation of river workers
• Challenges and hopes for the future of the Thames as a working and living river

Featuring:
🔹 Katherine Riggs (Thames Skills Academy) – on training and inspiring the next generation of river workers
🔹 Laura Nee (Thames Landscape Strategy) – on preserving and enhancing the river’s cultural and natural heritage
🔹 Inigo Lapwood (Theatreship) – on restoring historic vessels and keeping maritime history alive

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Talk of the Thames has been brought to you by the Thames Estuary Partnership https://www.thamesestuarypartnership.org/

Keep up to date with TEP on all platforms!
Twitter: @ThamesEstPart
Facebook: @thamesestuarypartnership
Instagram: @thamesestuarypartnership
YouTube: @thamesestuarypartnership 

Produced & Presented by Chloe Russell

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 the rich biodiversity, fascinating history, and hidden heritage of London's great river.

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Talk of the Thames has been brought to you by the Thames Estuary Partnership https://www.thamesestuarypartnership.org/

Keep up to date with TEP on all platforms!
Twitter: @ThamesEstPart
Facebook: @thamesestuarypartnership
Instagram: @thamesestuarypartnership
YouTube: @thamesestuarypartnership 

Produced & Presented by Chloe Russell.

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 Reach, where Steve provides invaluable insights into the world of marine and freshwater fisheries, as well as his extensive experience in protecting this unique ecosystem.

We pose a series of thought-provoking questions to Steve, exploring his remarkable 40 year long career and his passion for preserving the biodiversity of the Thames Estuary. We uncover the challenges he's faced while conducting fish surveys, his innovative solutions and his ability to collaborate with a diverse array of stakeholders.

From memorable discoveries to the environmental threats that fish populations face, we dive deep into the intricacies of the estuarine ecosystem. Steve shares his wisdom on sustainable fisheries management practices and the ever-evolving trends he's observed over the years.

As the conversation unfolds, we also touch on the special concerns and conservation interests associated with particular fish species and habitats in the Thames Estuary.

For those who harbour dreams of a career in marine and freshwater fisheries or environmental consultancy, Steve imparts his seasoned advice. And, as always, we conclude with a profound take-home message from our esteemed guest.

So, join us at the tranquil Riverside at Battersea Reach as we learn from the river's guardian, Steve Colclough, and continue our exploration of the hidden world beneath the tides of the Thames Estuary.

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Talk of the Thames has been brought to you by the Thames Estuary Partnership https://www.thamesestuarypartnership.org/

Keep up to date with TEP on all platforms!
Twitter: @ThamesEstPart
Facebook: @thamesestuarypartnership
Instagram: @thamesestuarypartnership
YouTube: @thamesestuarypartnership 

Produced & Presented by Chloe Russell.

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 significance of Estuary Edges, an innovative approach to enhance biodiversity along the edges of the estuary. These man-made vegetated intertidal habitats act as crucial ecosystems for fish and other wildlife, rejuvenating the estuarine edges and promoting a healthier environment.

But why are these sites so important, you ask? Wanda delves into the historical transformations that the Thames Estuary has undergone over the past 2,000 years, leading to the loss of vital habitats. These habitats, like saltmarshes, seagrass areas and reedbeds, have a far-reaching impact, not just on the wildlife but also on our daily lives. They reduce flood risk, act as carbon sinks, and provide crucial nursery and spawning grounds for fish. In a world where the sea levels are rising, they play an indispensable role in safeguarding the environment.

The aquatic life in the Thames Estuary is as diverse as it is fascinating. From the freshwater zone upstream from Battersea to the brackish waters downstream to Greenwich and the predominantly salty waters beyond, the fish species are ever-changing, depending on weather, season and tidal cycles. In 2017, the last survey at this site revealed the presence of European seabass, common goby, and the critically endangered European eel. These species contribute to the intricate web of life within the estuary, and with our seine nets, the survey yielded a total of 54 fish comprising of eight different species, including zander, goby, seabass, dace and bream. Additionally, a single European eel was caught during the fyke net operation.

Steve Colclough, Fisheries expert, provides insights into the fish surveys and the equipment used. But it doesn't stop at just catching fish; Steve takes us through the identification process and explains the importance of the data collected. This valuable information is shared with partner organisations, including the Port of London Authority, Environment Agency and the Institute of Fisheries Management. The data helps demonstrate the ecological benefits of these habitats, underlining the significance of the Estuary Edges.

But the Thames Estuary is not just about fish; it's a bustling hub of wildlife. Over 300 species of invertebrates, 96 species of birds, three species of mammals and even sharks call this estuary home. It's a testament to the richness of this ecosystem, with species like the tope, starry smooth-hound and spurdog patrolling the outer estuary.

So, join us on this exploration of the hidden wonders of the Thames Estuary, where every dive into its waters reveals something extraordinary and where the ongoing efforts of dedicated individuals like Wanda and Steve are helping us better understand and protect this remarkable environment.

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Talk of the Thames has been brought to you by the Thames Estuary Partnership https://www.thamesestuarypartnership.org/

Socials:
Twitter: @ThamesEstPart Facebook: @thamesestuarypartnership Instagram: @thamesestuarypartnership
YouTube: @thamesestuarypartnership

Produced & Presented by Chloe Russell.

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 compelling vision for reversing these challenges. Through a combination of scientific evidence and captivating storytelling, he guides us on a journey towards a sustainable and fulfilling existence.

Join us as we engage in conversation with Dr. Jules Pretty, exploring how to transform our lives and communities, foster a deeper connection with nature and take meaningful action to create a more sustainable future. Get ready to be inspired, informed and empowered to embark on your own journey. 
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Talk of the Thames has been brought to you by the Thames Estuary Partnership https://www.thamesestuarypartnership.org/

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Produced by Chloe Russell, Presented by Chloe Russell.