Thames21

This project focused on the work of Thames21, an organisation dedicated to improving and protecting the River Thames through community-led clean-up initiatives. After initially reaching out to Liz Gyekye and Toby Dighero about the project, I was allowed to document the organisation’s efforts to bring local communities together through organised clean-up walks, providing the equipment and support needed for people to take an active role in protecting their waterways.

I wanted to document the effort, dedication, and impact of their work while also raising awareness of the environmental issues affecting our rivers. Through these images, I aimed to explore the contrast between nature and the urban environment, highlighting how the two often clash, while also documenting efforts to restore and protect these spaces.

This collection captures both the hands-on work involved in restoring local waterways and the sense of community created through collective action, showing how people can come together to create visible change within their environment.