Warden Scheme
The wardens undertake to walk beside the river four times a year, and to report on any problems that they see.
Problems with the condition of the Thames Path (signs, potholes, broken gates, etc) are reported to the National Trails Office. Fallen trees that might be blocking the river and sources of pollution to the river are reported to the Environment Agency.
Most wardens take a plastic bag with them to pick up litter on their walks. Some of the reaches are trouble free and stay in good repair - so the warden's report is simply to say that all is well. Some wardens like to tell us about the good things that they see on their reaches e.g. interesting birds or plants, improvements to the Thames Path, facilities for visitors or boats.
The warden duties are entirely voluntary, so we all act in our own ways. A few who live beside the river combine the wardenship with a daily walk. Others live at a distance from the river and being a warden is an additional reason for a riverside walk.
The work of the 55 or so Wardens has recently attracted good publicity, featuring in an exhibition of photographs by Jil Orpen at the River & Rowing Museum, Henley, in late 2010 and on the BBC Radio 4 programme Open Country in January 2011.
With the help of the University of the Third Age which has been running a riverside project, kingfishers along the Thames are being recorded. This will be important work following the severe cold weather last winter.
Warden's Holiday?
Our top picture shows warden, David Thomas, enjoying a stint as Temporary Assistant Lock Keeper at Penton Hook during August 2011. David says "It is a role I can recommend to other members - talk to the EA who are looking for more."
Litter Picking Round Up
Following on from another successful Thames 21 annual Deep Clean in February, in which RTS volunteers took part, we are pleased to be working with Thames 21 on an upriver Clean Up Campaign, launched in Reading during May 2011. The River Thames Society 'Tidy up the Thames' programme continues actively in the Oxford area also. Contact Dick Mayon-White (see bottom of this page) for details about these activities and how you can get involved to help clean up the beautiful River Thames.
River Warden David Thomas collected litter from the Bell weir to Old Windsor reach during May, and reports: "In spite of the best efforts of me and my partner, Marea, just two half bags of miscellaneous flotsam were collected on our litter pick - no old tyres or supermarket trolleys, just the usual plastic bottles from the river and beer cans from the bushes."
Annual Wardens' Meeting, Maidenhead Rowing Club, 16th April 2011
The second annual meeting for wardens was a busy and interesting session. Click here to read the full report.
Vacant reaches for wardens
Currently, there are vacancies for Wardens in the following areas:
Other vacancies may arise and there are other ways of becoming involved in the Society's conservation projects, so please contact either Dick Mayon-White or Peter Finch, below, if you are interested in helping with this important work in your area.