The Big Green Conversation: Our River
The Big Green Conversation: Our River
By Julia
On 22nd January 2025, Greener Henley launched its first-ever Big Green Conversation, bringing our local community together at the Kenton Theatre to talk about one of our most precious local assets: the River Thames. With an expert panel, an engaged audience, and the urgent topic ‘river pollution and biodiversity loss’, this event marked the start of an exciting new series of conversations designed to empower our community to drive change.
A Community Coming Together for Our River
The evening’s expert panel featured passionate voices dedicated to protecting and restoring our waterways:
- Dr. Imogen Grant, Olympic rower, Doctor, and Ambassador for The Rivers Trust, who highlighted the health risks of river pollution, particularly the dangers of E. coli.
- Laura Reineke, Henley Mermaid and CEO of Friends of the Thames, who described how she has witnessed the river’s decline first-hand as a regular open-water swimmer.
- Richard Caines, river pollution campaigner and WWF International Director, who spoke about the broader systemic changes needed to improve river health.
- Dr. Andrew Singer, principal scientist at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, who stressed the power of education in tackling environmental issues.
The conversation was expertly hosted by Kate Lloyd, who guided discussions on sewage spills, agricultural runoff, biodiversity loss, and corporate responsibility.
Together we explored questions like What’s it like to swim in the Thames these days – and is it safe? Can citizen scientists testing the water quality really make a difference? How is local wildlife coping with repeated pollution events, and is there anything we can do locally to better protect it?
A live sewage map displayed behind the panelists gave the audience a stark visual of real-time pollution events, reinforcing just how urgent and complex this issue is. But while the problems are significant, the panelists also made it clear: we have the power to drive change.
Why Talking Matters
This event was just the beginning of the Big Green Conversation series, which will continue at the Kenton Theatre and beyond. We’ll be holding discussions in different community spaces, with plans to introduce climate cafes, which are growing in popularity across Oxfordshire. These informal gatherings offer a space for people to come together and share concerns, without debating the science. We also plan, increasingly, to hold talks by experts – watch this space for Great Big Green Week 2025 (7th – 15th June).
Talking about these issues in an open, honest, and informed way is one of the most powerful tools we have. When communities come together to learn, question, and discuss, we spark action.
What Can We Do Next?
One clear action from the night came from Imogen Grant, who encouraged everyone to write to their MP. Public pressure is one of the most effective ways to push for stronger protections for our rivers, better regulation of polluters, and more investment in sustainable water management.
https://www.writetothem.com/ find the contact details for your local councillors & MP here, just put in your postcode, click on your MP’s name and enter your comments. It’s simple and speedy!
As Greener Henley transitions into its newly registered charity status, we’ll soon be providing clearer guidance on key policy asks that supporters can champion. For now, the best thing you can do is:
- Get involved with your local climate and nature group, which – if you’re reading this – is us! Sign up here to find out about ongoing events and actions you can do. Join the conversation, be part of the movement for change.
- Write to your MP – demand real action for our rivers and for nature (clearer guidance on what to ask your MP will be available soon)
- Stay informed – question, research, and share credible information.
This is just the start of The Big Green Conversation. Let’s keep talking, keep learning, and keep pushing for a greener, cleaner, safer Henley.
What topics would you like to see covered in future events? Get in touch and let us know!
