Led by the Thames Rivers Trust and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, this one year development phase project aims to address man-made barriers that prevent critically endangered European eel migrating upstream in rivers across the Thames Catchment. Alongside this, project partners will carry out citizen science surveys in order to collect much needed data on this keystone species fish and deliver outdoor, hands-on community educational and outreach activities.

Across the north Kent marshes, the partnership will be undertaking the following work during 2026:

• Volunteer supported Eel e-DNA surveys, across Selected North Kent Marshes Water Level Management Board (NKMWLM) watercourses on the Isle of Sheppey.
• A tidal barrier survey, in order to identify barriers preventing eel passage in and out of the marshes.
• Educational activities, incorporated in to our Wild Estuary programme.
• Community engagement activities.