Our image this week was inspired by World Rivers Day, the last Sunday of September. This day was created to celebrate the wealth of benefits that rivers bring and to focus on improved stewardship.
London’s development and character is strongly influenced by the river Thames and its tributaries. The river is designated as a Metropolitan Site of Importance for Nature Conservation in recognition of its value to wildlife and Londoners (see more about SINCs here).
But the Thames is not the only important river in London. There are many other rivers and streams in the capital that have significant roles for green infrastructure and nature conservation locally, including the Ingrebourne, the Crane, Beverley Brook, the Roding, the Colne, the Lee, Pymmes Brook, the Wandle, the Quaggy, the Ravensbourne and the Brent – pictured in this week’s image. These urban rivers encounter different pressures than their rural equivalents and work to improve and maintain their quality is important.
GiGL have been a lead partner on the Urban River Survey project, run by Natural England in partnership with Queen Mary, University of London, University of Sheffield and the Environment Agency. This project aims to gain an understanding of the ecological potential of urban rivers in London using appropriate river survey techniques and analysis.
GiGL hosts information from the Urban River Survey and River Restoration Project details from the River Restoration Centre as a data layer on iGiGL – the online data portal. This information can then be accessed by users with a special permission log-in, to assist with their river survey or restoration work.
Photo: River Brent in Brent Park, Dudley Miles
September 2013
For other ‘image of the week’ pieces see our archive.