THE Thames Path National Trail will celebrate its 30th anniversary this summer with a 24-day walking relay.
The event will bring together hundreds of ramblers, community and river-user groups, and residents from towns and villages along the 185.2 mile route.
Starting at the source of the River Thames in a Cotswold meadow near Kemble, Gloucestershire, the relay will end at the Woolwich Foot Tunnel in East London.
The anniversary celebrations include 30 poems by Poet-in-Residence Robert Seatter, which can be read and heard via QR codes on waymarker posts in 30 locations between the river source and Woolwich, and on the Visit Thames website.
Robert’s book of the poems, titled River, will be launched in London, on Tuesday, June 2.
A new mural highlighting the nature and wildlife of the Thames Path and river is also being painted on Mill Meadows Pavilion in Henley-on-Thames during May by local artist Vickie Amiralis.
And a ‘Thames Path at 30’ photo-competition and exhibition will be hosted by the Thames Festival Trust to celebrate theThames Path National Trail anniversary, and the completion of the Thames Tideway Tunnel in London.
When the Thames Path National Trail was declared open in July 1996, the Thames Barrier in Greenwich was the start or finish point.
In January 2022 the route was extended to Woolwich Foot Tunnel where it links up with the King Charles III England Coast Path.
Hannah Gutteridge, the Thames Path National Trail manager, and her team are coordinating the National Trail’s 30th anniversary celebrations.
She said: “We’ve created 24 walks along the Thames Path, each led by an experienced walker from a community group.
“We’re delighted to be collaborating with enthusiastic and experienced walk leaders from local Ramblers groups, regular Thames Path users and the Mayors for a Drinkable Thames.”
The Thames Path Relay is a collaboration with the Drinkable Rivers Foundation (DRF).
DRF founder Li An Phoa walked the Thames Path from source-to-sea in 2023; a walk that united mayors, councillors, river user groups, and local environmental organisations in the ‘Mayors for a Drinkable Thames’ action network.
Li An Phoa and James Manthel, co-initiator of the Mayors for a Drinkable Thames, invite people to join the walk and local community events to take place during the Thames Relay.
They said: “During this walk we hope to strengthen the connection between the people and communities along the Thames.
“We hope local people and groups will organise community-based events during the Thames Path Relay to celebrate and deepen our love and dedication for our shared Thames.”
The Thames Path Relay will start on Friday, June5, ending on Sunday, June 28.
For information, visit: nationaltrail.co.uk
