Wandling free: schools’ trout fry bid for freedom
At the end of this month pupils from 16 schools along the Wandle Valley will be releasing over 1,000 “swim-up” trout fry into the River Wandle in South London.
As recently as the 1970s, the Wandle was designated as a sewer. But, thanks to the work of the Wandle Trust charity and its principal sponsor Thames Water, and the support of local councillors, the river is now being restored to its former glory as one of England’s great chalkstreams.
The Wandle Trust is a charity dedicated to restoring the River Wandle. We hold river cleanups on the second Sunday of every month, and our “Trout in the Classroom” programme has been carefully designed to reconnect children with their local environment.
For more detailed information about the Wandle Trust and our 2007 “Trout in the Classroom” programme, please see our website www.wandletrust.org and the information below.
When and where the River Wandle trout releases will happen:
Wandsworth and Wimbledon
Tuesday 27 March 2007: 2.30pm at the Mapleton Road bridge over the Wandle in Wandsworth
Schools: Allfarthing, Garratt Park, Hotham, Oak Lodge, Swaffield, and Wimbledon Park
Nearest rail station: Wandsworth
Streetmap reference:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=525744&y=174164&z=1&sv=525744,174164&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf
Sutton and Croydon
Wednesday 28 March 2007: 2.00pm at Shepley Mill, Restmor Way, Hackbridge
Schools: Gonville, Old Palace, and St Philomena’s
Nearest rail station: Carshalton
Streetmap reference:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=528296&y=165722&z=1&sv=restm&st=6&tl=Restmor+Way,+Wallington,+Surrey,+SM6&searchp=newsearch.srf&mapp=newmap.srf
Mitcham and Merton
Wednesday 29 March 2007: 1.30pm at the white footbridge in Morden Hall Park, Morden
Schools: Bond, Broomwood, Gorringe, Linden Lodge, Newton Prep, Singlegate and Sutton Grammar
Nearest Tube station: Morden
Streetmap reference:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=526118&y=168701&z=1&sv=526118,168701&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf
Who will be there
Teachers and children from all participating schools
Local MP’s
Local councillors
Local council biodiversity officers and waste managers
Local officers of the Environment Agency
Local and national press
Gideon Reeve, “Trout in the Classroom” co-ordinator, and Trustee of the Wandle Trust
Erica Evans, Trustee of the Wandle Trust
Theo Pike, Trustee of the Wandle Trust
Simon Williams, Trustee of the Wandle Trust
Charles Harman, Trustee of the Wandle Trust
Gill Turner, Trustee of the Wandle Trust
Jane Entwistle, Trustee of the Wandle Trust
