Friends of the Thames
Connecting communities, protecting the river
Our mission
Friends of the Thames is an entirely volunteer-led charity building a movement of river guardians to give the Thames a voice and a future.
We exist to reconnect people with the river, restore the relationship between communities and nature, and inspire a new era of stewardship rooted in river guardianship and the principles of rights of nature. We believe the Thames is more than a resource, she is a living, breathing entity with intrinsic value, deserving of care, protection and representation.
By bringing together local communities, citizen scientists, campaigners, businesses and decision-makers, we are creating a powerful network of guardians working to protect, restore and speak for the Thames from source to sea.
Our mission is not only to restore the health of the river, but to restore our connection to her, ensuring future generations inherit a thriving, resilient and life-filled Thames.
Talks
Reading Climate Action Week
Online
What is the true state of our river, and why should we care?
Thursday 11th June 17:30
London Climate Action Week
Shakespeares Globe
Letters to the Earth
Sunday 21st June 13:30
London Climate Action Week
Conduit Club
Rights of Nature & River Guardianship
25th June 2026. 18:00
Rivers Summit & Festival
Henley-on-Thames
Rights of Nature & River Guardianship
4 & 5th September 2026
Rethink your sink
Rethink the Sink is Friends of the Thames' campaign to reduce pollution at source by encouraging people to think carefully about what goes down their sinks, toilets and drains. Many everyday products, from cleaning chemicals and medicines to wet wipes and cosmetics, can end up harming our rivers and wildlife.
The campaign empowers people to become river guardians through simple behaviour changes, helping to protect the Thames and other waterways. Because river protection doesn't start at the treatment works — it starts at home.
“We have a moral & legal obligation to take action on behalf of the river herself & the wildlife that calls her home.”
Welcome
We exist to reconnect people with the river and restore the relationship between communities and the natural world. We believe the Thames is more than a resource to be managed — she is a living, breathing entity that sustains people, wildlife and places, and deserves to be respected, protected and represented.
From source to sea, we bring together communities, NGOs, campaign groups, clubs, businesses, scientists, educators and decision-makers to create one connected network for the river. We share and amplify campaigns, connect people and organisations working towards common goals, and provide a platform where knowledge, ideas, evidence and action can be brought together to create greater collective impact.
Through citizen science, education, storytelling, advocacy, legal innovation and community action, we empower people to become active guardians of the Thames. Our vision is a future where everyone feels a connection to the river and understands their role in protecting and restoring her.
At the heart of our work is a belief that rivers should have a voice in the decisions that affect them. Inspired by the growing global movement for Rights of Nature, we are working towards a future where the Thames is recognised in law as a living entity with inherent rights, represented by guardians and protected for future generations.
By reconnecting people with the river, building a catchment-wide community of guardians, and speaking with one collective voice, we can help restore the Thames to a thriving, life-filled river once again.
Photo Credit: Alex Robertson FoTT member
News
Join the Friends of the Thames (FoTT) Community
We're building a shared space where data is transparent, accessible, and empowering for everyone.
Our mission is to support local communities with the knowledge, tools, and services they need — to swim, paddle, or fish safely, to stand up to harmful practices, and to hold polluters like Thames Water accountable.