Thames Rivers Trust has received initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for their partnership project, the Thames Catchment Community Eels Project, it was announced recently. Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, the project aims to address manmade barriers that prevent Critically Endangered European Eel migrating up our rivers, carry out three types of citizen science surveying to collect important data on this keystone species fish, and across the Thames the project will roll out extensive and innovative outdoor, hands-on river and eel community education and outreach. 

Development funding of £460,748.00 has been awarded by the Heritage Fund to help Thames Rivers Trust progress their plans to apply for a full National Lottery grant of £2,718,150.00. 

Rivers in the Thames catchment have an immense natural and cultural heritage, supporting iconic native species, including the once common and now critically endangered European Eel. Without this funding from the Heritage Fund this species, which plays an essential role in a healthy river ecosystem, could be lost from these rivers forever. 

The project will enable extensive conservation work to take place at strategic sites restoring vital eel migration routes up our rivers, enabling this fish, that can grow to 1 metre in length, to reach healthy habitats and increase support for the species to thrive in our rivers. Here, they live for many years before undertaking an epic migration, swimming down our rivers, out to sea and returning to the Sargasso Sea, where it is thought the eels spawn just once in their lifetime.

Volunteers, local groups, schools, and the wider community will be able to take part in the project through events and citizen science training and surveying opportunities, allowing people to enjoy and learn about their local river and this special fish, and to play a part in the Thames catchment’s natural heritage. 

In the long-term, the project will improve the future for the European Eel and build the skills and capacity of Thames Rivers Trust and their project partners, Action for the River Kennet, South East Rivers Trust, Thames21, Zoological Society of London, Thames Estuary Partnership, Medway, Swale Estuary Partnership, and Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust; who together are delivering this environmental project at a scale no one organisation could bring to fruition alone. 

Thames Rivers Trust CEO Miles Morgan said, 

‘We are thrilled to have received this initial game changing support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players we can now develop our plans, building on our earlier successful eel pilot project to work together for the benefit of the European Eel, rivers and communities.’ 

Stuart McLeod, Director of London and South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said, 

"We’re delighted to offer our initial support to Thames Rivers Trust in developing this ambitious project to protect the critically endangered European Eel. Thanks to National Lottery players, this initiative will not only help restore vital habitats but also connect communities with the natural heritage on their doorstep. We look forward to working with the team to progress their plans to apply for their full National Lottery grant at a later date.”

Keep an eye on the Trust's news page for updates on this project.