Friends of the Thames, in collaboration with FoTT's very own River Director, environmental barrister, rights of nature campaigner, and Guardian of the River Roding, Paul Powlesland (Lawyers for Nature), is proud to announce the launch of River Guardians Network — a pioneering project aimed at protecting, monitoring, and restoring the entire Thames river system. FoTT River Guardians Network builds on the amazing work of existing guardians and groups, expanding across the Thames catchment to fill in the gaps where protection is most needed. The goal is simple yet ambitious: to ensure that every stretch of the Thames and its tributaries has a dedicated guardian — an individual or community group — watching over it.This network of River Guardians will observe, report, and advocate for the health of the river, helping to create a coordinated, citizen-led movement for cleaner, safer waters.
Our Thames Catchment River Guardians Network is growing rapidly! At the heart of Friends of the Thames lies a belief in rights for our river. The Guardians are the foundation of a movement to change how we all see the Thames — to reconnect the disconnected, make the river part of everyone’s life, and inspire a shared sense of care and responsibility for its future.
Mission
​
Why?
​
Around the world, existing environmental laws have failed to stop the ongoing destruction of ecosystems. Built primarily to regulate exploitation rather than protect life, these laws treat nature as property — a resource to be used — instead of as a living system with its own inherent rights. To address this failure, we need a fundamental shift in perspective: recognising nature itself as a rights-bearing entity deserving of protection and respect.
