Email: MarineandFreshwater@ZSL.org
The River Thames and its tributaries are home to a diverse array of wildlife, and ZSL is working to conserve and enhance this biodiverse ecosystem.
We're enlisting the help of citizen scientist volunteers in our vital conservation work. Whether you can help for a few hours, days or months, there are a number of projects for you to get involved with throughout the year.
In 2025, ZSL’s aquatic citizen science projects will include:
- Outfall Safari’s at various locations across Greater London. These surveys help map, rank and report sources of pollution in rivers in London
- Riverfly Monitoring Initiative monthly health checks to gauge the health of waterways by looking at the diversity of invertebrates
- Conserving the Critically Endangered European eel. Help with measuring and counting eels as they migrate through our rivers to better understand their life history and distribution.
- London Water Vole Recovery Programme water vole surveys. We are looking for volunteers to help us monitor sites across London to allow us to better understand water vole distribution and recovery.
Please sign up to one of our training sessions below to learn how to carry out bankside surveys to identify and score polluting outfalls and to sign up to a section of river to survey. More information can be found on the Eventbrite links below.
Hogsmill River:
- Monday 10th March, 13:30-15:30 https://Hogsmill_OS_2025.eventbrite.co.uk
Upper Lea
- Wednesday 19th March, 11:00-13:00 https://UpperLea_OS_2025.eventbrite.co.uk
River Roding
- Wednesday 12th March, 13:30-15:30 https://Roding_OS_2025.eventbrite.co.uk
River Ingrebourne
- Wednesday 26th March, 10:30-12:30 https://Ingrebourne_OS_2025.eventbrite.co.uk
Please sign up to our water vole training events, to take part in the National Water Vole Monitoring Programme and help us better understand water vole distribution in the wake of mink eradication and inform our water vole recovery programme.
Hogsmill River
- Thursday 6th March, 12:30-16:00 https://Hogsmill_WV_Monitoring.eventbrite.co.uk
Crane
- Monday 3rd March, 11:30-15:00 https://Crane_WV_Monitoring.eventbrite.co.uk
River Roding
- Thursday 13th March, 10:30-14:30 https://Roding_WV_Monitoring.eventbrite.co.uk
River Cray
- Friday 14th March 10:30-14:30 https://Cray_WaterVole_Monitoring.eventbrite.co.uk
What we need from you
You will be fully trained so experience is not necessary and all equipment is provided. All you need is wellies, a willingness to learn from our experts and a bit of spare time to take part - we provide the rest!
All volunteers must be over 18. If you are interested in any of these opportunities, please register here for more information:
Unable to volunteer, but keen to help?
If you are unable to volunteer but would still like to support our conservation work in the Thames, then you can still help conservation scientists to understand how seals use a popular haul-out site in the Thames Estuary. Instant Wild relies on members of the public to identify seals or other species captured in images from camera traps placed at Hamford Water.
If you see a dead or stranded marine mammal, please inform the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme.
ZSL's Thames projects
- Conserving the Critically Endangered European eel
- Ensuring the health of London's rivers
- Monitoring the spread of invasive species
- Understanding fish life in the Thames
Volunteer
Find out more about volunteering as a Citizen Scientist.