River Thame clean up

Following an appeal from Rotary Phoenix in Thame & District, Thame Wombles and Thame Green Living 20 volunteers have managed to clear the Oxfordshire bank of the Scotgrove Stream, a tributary of the river Thame over the weekend of 7 and 8 May 2022. An area of almost 200 metres long running from Travelodge to Starbucks coffee shop at the Thame Services area by the B4011 road was cleared.

The volunteers tackled mainly dead branches of wood which would block the river flow during winter and cause unwanted flooding in the area. The equivalent of 20 builder bags of dead wood have been collected as well as one builder bag of non-recyclable waste. The most unusual item found in the stream was an old office chair.

It is hoped that work carried would help reduce the flooding. However, more work is required on the Buckinghamshire side of the stream.

Marius Ciortan, representing Rotary Phoenix said: “I would like to thank all volunteers for their energy and enthusiasm in clearing up the Oxfordshire bank of the Scotgrove Stream. We will plan the next phase of the clean-up in the coming days. We would also like to be able to organise similar River Thame clean up events every year.”

About the event: this project is part of Rotary Thames Valley’s Thame and tributaries clean up scheduled to take place across River Thames and its tributaries over the 7 and 8 May weekend. Apart from Thame, volunteers in Henley, Maidenhead and Bourne End supported this project. The objectives of this initiative include: reduce the amount of plastic and other debris in the River Thames and tributaries, raise awareness of the issues of plastic waste finding its way into the water table and oceans, work and engage with other local environment groups, raise awareness of Rotary as a responsible environmental activist, respect the river users and the wildlife.

To find out more about the organisations involved, please visit www.thame.rotary1090.org or www.facebook.com/thamerotary or www.instagram.com/thame.rotary

https://www.thamegreenliving.org.uk/

https://www.thamewombles.co.uk/

Rotary Phoenix club’s doors are largely open to welcome new volunteer members, women and men.