New coalition secures $5 million to transform the Thames

One of the world’s most famous waterways is about to get a huge transformation, as part of a multi-million dollar project funded through the Endangered Landscape and Seascape Programme. Coastal habitats along the Greater Thames Estuary, the life source of England’s capital and far beyond, will be restored as part of the $5 million project, providing vital spaces for wildlife and healthier environments for people

Led by Zoologica Society London (ZSL), the Transforming the Thames project seeks to bring back wildlife in the Greater Thames Estuary by re-connecting the fragmented seascape through habitat restoration, pressure reduction, and protection. The partnership will deliver the restoration of over 320ha coastal habitat across the marine and terrestrial realm that will support flourishing populations of wild animals and plants. These restored habitats will generate ecosystem services benefiting the 8 million people living in the seascape, as well as showcasing how large-scale seascape restoration can take place in the waters of a capital city. Through active restoration, removing barriers, and enabling scale, we can achieve our long-term vision for a recovered and thriving Thames seascape.

The project is a partnership between 19 organisations working in the Thames;  Bird Aware Essex Coast, Crown Estate, Environment Agency, Essex and Suffolk Rivers Trust, Essex Rivers Hub Catchment Partnership, Essex County Council, Essex Local Nature Partnership, Essex Wildlife Trust, Kent and Essex IFCA, Kent County Council, Kent Wildlife Trust Group (Adonis Blue Environmental Consultancy), Medway and Swale Estuary Partnership, Natural England, the Port of London Authority (PLA), Project Seagrass, RSPB, Thames Estuary Partnership, University of Essex, ZSL.