Campaigners say they are optimistic about the future of popular stepping stones at a Surrey beauty spot, after the Environment Agency (EA) confirmed that no

Save the Hogsmill Stepping Stones

Signs suggest the water vole population on the Hogsmill River in Surrey has been reestablished.

People told to keep themselves and their pets out of river at Ham amid anger over Thames Water’s plans to pump treated sewage

People and pets told to keep out of river at Ham amid anger over Thames Water’s plans to pump treated sewage Swimmers are being warned not to enter the water at the first official bathing site on the River Thames, in south-west London, because of toxic blue-green algae in the water. The blue-green algal blooms are rare in moving water but are likely to be caused by the extreme heat, low river flow, and nutrient pollution from sewage waste. Thames Water’s Hogsmill sewage treatment plant, in Kingston upon Thames, is situated three miles upstream of the Ham bathing site. Continue reading...

People told to keep themselves and their pets out of river at Ham amid anger over Thames Water’s plans to pump treated sewage

Swimmers are being warned not to enter the water at the first official bathing site on the River Thames, in south-west London, because of toxic blue-green algae in the water. The blue-green algal blooms are rare in moving water but are likely to be caused by the extreme heat, low river flow, and nutrient pollution from sewage waste. Thames Water’s Hogsmill sewage treatment plant, in Kingston upon Thames, is situated three miles upstream of the Ham bathing site. The algae discovery raises further questions about plans by Thames Water to pump 75m litres of treated sewage a day into the river near the bathing spot, in a water recycling scheme that is in the pre-application stage for a development consent order. Marlene Lawrence, of the swimming group Teddington Bluetits, which successfully applied for the bathing water designation at Ham, said: “This is so unusual to get blue-green algae in a moving body of water. It is the first time in nearly six years of swimming here that this has happened. “The river is very low flowing at the moment because of the lack of rain and the high temperatures we are having. With climate change this is likely to happen...

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Signs suggest the water vole population on the Hogsmill River in Surrey has been reestablished.

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New camera footage, burrows and feeding signs show water voles thriving along the Hogsmill River one year after their reintroduction.

Wednesday 22nd July. A bright evening with 1 cancellation & 1 no show, 9 Cyclists left via Lower Marsh, Berrylands, Tolworth, Malden Manor, Cuddington, Auriol Park, Stoneleigh, Nonsuch Park, East Ewell, to Ewell village, for refreshments at the always delightful Wheatsheaf, also several other Cyclists,-including a group of Mountain Bikers-, a short stretch of Hogsmill path, West Ewell, Tolworth, Surbiton, to finish back in Kingston. Total 13 Miles, 1 new face, thanks to Earl for back marking, for the first time. Map:- www.plotaroute.com/route/2318838

The Pre-Raphaelite masterpiece, Ophelia, by John Everett ...