Paul Powlesland

Full report is here, it’s well worth a read:

www.london.gov.uk/sites/defaul...

These steps are not easy, but nor is it rocket science. I already swim in the Roding in the summer, & with effort & will I believe many people could safely join me in enjoying this running river within a decade.

Other key priorities:

- Tackle invasive species which are damaging the river’s ecology & stopping its ability to process urban pollution.

- Open up access along the river (particularly on land owned by public authorities) & create physical access to the river.

- Stop and/or filter road runoff

The Roding also illustrates what needs to be done, in practical terms, to make this dream a reality:

- Fix the illegal dry weather outfalls that the River Roding Trust has now largely identified.

- Remove the rubbish & debris from the bed of the river which had built up over the past 50 years.

Swimmable rivers in London within a decade are possible with hard work, sufficient investment & imagination.

I’m really glad that the submission I made on behalf of the River Roding made it into the report, because the Roding has the potential to be one of the most swimmable rivers in London.

This is a very good way of putting it!

I think it would be a pretty good deal for both parties

What makes you think that?

Quietly left at a slow walk & then came back in & up to the bed again 15 mins later.

It didn’t flinch or run away when I turned to it & instead slowly sussed me out & gently sauntered back off the boat. It feels like the longer I live in nature, the more comfortable all creatures become with me and my presence.

I was on my boat late last night & thought I heard a scrabbling noise coming from outside. I saw movement out of the corner of my eye & looked up to see a fox had come through my open boat hatch & was climbing into my bed!

It was a pleasure to receive their excellency…

I was getting changed in my bedroom today & felt like I was being watched. I spun round to see this cheeky heron eyeing me up. There’s a better class of peeping tom out on the river!

A joyful experience of a victory rally, rather than a protest march today, as I joined access campaigners gathered under the imposing outline of Haytor on Dartmoor to celebrate the Supreme Court judgement upholding the only right to wild camp in England.

We are banned from swimming in the reservoir, it was the whole point in the protest. What was your purpose in posting that article?

Under your logic, this statistic means we should ban angling.

Not really, it’s a direct rebuttal to your rather silly point that a single death 7 years ago is a reason to stop thousands of people enjoying their lives by wild swimming.

Clearly not enough, eh?

It is interesting that we don’t outlaw activities that result in far far more injuries and deaths, particularly the driving of motor vehicles, isn’t it? Safety culture only extends to some activities apparently.

So, with hundreds of others, I ignored the United Utilities security guard & had a cold but thrilling trespass swim in the sunshine among the rolling green hills of the Peak District, to demand the right to swim.

How can it be that United Utilities can prevent us from swimming in the rivers & lakes that we are legally allowed to swim in by pouring sewage in them, but then forbid us from swimming in ‘their’ reservoir (which was given to them at privatisation) instead?

Today I joined Right to Roam and 400 people today in a mass swim trespass at Kinder Reservoir in the Peak District. The event was in commemoration of the anniversary of the Kinder Scout Mass Trespass, but with a very modern & pressing issue of access.

Yes, I definitely will!

Up and around, potentially a few metres high

My experiments in building with Nature continue with a ‘living desk’ where I can work from home overlooking the river

Legs of the desk are made from live coppiced willow that should spring to life & grow into 4 live willow trees around the desk creating a completely unique piece of living furniture

Would you like to join in a campaign to force the EA to allow domestic restocking?

Hard to describe feeling of satisfaction of being a river guardian seeing a sand martin nesting hole you campaigned to be installed being used for 1st time

This morning I witnessed a sand martin couple moving into their new build, affordable nest in the heart of Barking, & I couldn’t be more proud!

Have seen tonnes of bees & butterflies by the Roding this year already, which makes a lovely change.

Wow, this will really transform this area. Thank you for all of the efforts of yourself & everyone who is making this happen, it’s really appreciated.