River Thame Conservation Trust

09/10/2026

River Thame Conservation Trust is looking for a Thame Smarter Water Catchment Programme Manager to lead an ambitious, multi-year partnership programme tackling the challenges facing rivers and the wider water environment.

Working across the entire River Thame catchment, you'll bring together evidence, organisations and communities to turn shared priorities into practical action for healthier rivers.

The programme covers a broad range of interconnected issues: understanding the pressures affecting river health, exploring smarter and more nature-friendly ways to manage water, developing opportunities for nature recovery, and helping communities connect with and care for their local river. It offers the opportunity to work across sectors, influence how future investment is directed, and help develop solutions that can make a lasting difference.

You'll work closely with Thames Water, local authorities, environmental organisations, landowners and communities, as well as drawing on the wider expertise and collaboration of the national Rivers Trust movement.

If you have experience leading complex projects, building partnerships and turning environmental ambitions into action, we'd like to hear from you.

Find out more and apply: www.riverthame.org/job-vacancies

Read more about the programme: www.riverthame.org/post/the-thame-catchment-becomes-a-smarter-water-catchment

Closing date: 9am, Monday 19 October 2026.



The Rivers Trust
Thames Water
Environment Agency
Freshwater Habitats Trust
Chilterns National Landscape
Chilterns Chalk Streams Project
Thames Rivers Trust
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology - UKCEH
Natural England
Oxfordshire County Council
Buckinghamshire Council
South Oxfordshire District Council
Thame Town Council
21st Century Thame

05/10/2026

We’re hiring: Thame Smarter Water Catchment Programme Manager

Full job details and application information:
www.riverthame.org/job-vacancies

📍 Oxfordshire-based office & home working
💷 £53,000 starting salary
📅 Full-time, permanent
⏰ Closing: 9am, Monday 19 October 2026

We’re looking for an experienced environmental professional to lead a new four-year programme focused on improving river health across the Thame catchment.

This is a chance to work at catchment scale, bringing together evidence, practical action and partnership working to tackle the pressures facing our rivers.

You’ll lead a portfolio of projects, work with farmers, landowners, local authorities, environmental organisations and Thames Water, and develop practical solutions spanning water quality, nature recovery, sustainable land management and nature-based solutions.

You’ll join our small, multidisciplinary team at the River Thame Conservation Trust, with extensive experience of the catchment and a strong network of local partners.

The River Thame Conservation Trust occasionally has job vacancies, learn how to join the team.

11/09/2026

The Dorchester Fish Pass is taking shape:

A major stage of construction is now underway at Hurst Water Meadow, with the old weir at the top of Buck Pool being removed and the foundations for the rock ramp.

The old weir and deteriorated bridge deck, including its piers, have now been removed. Sheet piling and rock armour have also been installed to provide structural support and protect the riverbanks from erosion. This area will be further landscaped with soil and planted towards the end of the construction process.

Downstream, contractors are installing the foundations for the new rock ramp fish pass. Metal sheet piles are being driven deep into the riverbed to anchor the ramp and keep it stable against the force of the river. These will eventually sit beneath the new ramp, which will be formed from carefully positioned rocks and boulders that help shape how water flows through it.

Over the next couple of weeks, further structures will be installed to control water levels and the flow of water through the new fish passage and between the two river channels.

It is a very different-looking River Thame at the moment, with the working area temporarily dewatered so that this construction work can safely take place.

We’ve explained more about what is happening, why the river has been dewatered and how the new fish passage will work in our latest update.

Read the full construction update → www.riverthame.org/post/dorchester-fish-pass-construction-update

Thanks to our partners, funders and contractors: The Hurst Water Meadow Trust, Environment Agency, Amenity Water Management Ltd, Garfield Weston Foundation and many others!

20/08/2026

After a long dry spell, the first heavy rainfall can bring a sudden pulse of water — and pollution — into our rivers.

This is sometimes referred to as the “first flush”. Rainfall running over roads, urban surfaces and land can pick up accumulated pollutants, sediments and nutrients and carry them into watercourses. Combined with changes in flow, temperature and dissolved oxygen, this can place additional stress on aquatic life.

If you see dead or distressed fish, fish gasping at the surface, or other signs of pollution or wildlife distress, please report it to the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60 and, where appropriate, alert the fishery owner or angling club.

Fish kills are one of the most visible and distressing signs that something is wrong with our rivers. Pollution, physical modification, abstraction, runoff and other human pressures can all interact to reduce the resilience of river ecosystems.

As a rivers trust, we want to see catchments where rivers are better able to cope with these pressures — including through nature-based solutions that slow and filter runoff, restore natural habitats and processes, and improve the resilience of the wider catchment. But we also have to recognise the reality of the pressures our rivers and their wildlife are facing today.

Our volunteers, anglers, landowners, local communities, and other river users are often the first to see what is happening on the ground. Thank you to the many people who keep an eye on our rivers and streams. You are an important part of the network of eyes and ears helping to protect the River Thame and its wildlife.

Please share the Environment Agency's message below so that more people know what to look out for and, importantly, what to do if they see it.

After such a long dry spell, heavy downpours can cause run-off from surrounding land, leading to changes in water quality in lakes and rivers.

This can distress fish and, in some cases, lead to fish kills.

If you see dead fish, fish in distress, or fish gasping at the surface, please call our helpline on 0800 80 70 60 and alert the fishery owner or angling club.

19/08/2026

River Thame Conservation Trust, together with the Thame Catchment Partnership, is embarking on an exciting new opportunity as one of Thames Water’s new Smarter Water Catchments.

So, what is a Smarter Water Catchment?

It’s an approach to improving river health that looks beyond individual issues or locations and considers how the whole catchment functions as a connected system.

For the River Thame, that means bringing together the people and organisations already working across the catchment to better understand the pressures on our rivers and identify where coordinated action can make the greatest difference.

The Thame faces many challenges: pollution and sewage discharges, agricultural and urban pressures, habitat loss and degradation, historic river modifications, climate change and pressures on water availability.

No single organisation can solve these problems alone.

Over the 2026–2030 programme, RTCT will work with partners across the catchment to:

🔎 build a stronger evidence base for river health
🗺️ develop a shared vision and restoration plan
🌱 identify opportunities for nature-based solutions and river recovery
🤝 strengthen collaboration between communities, land managers, researchers, local authorities and environmental organisations
💧 develop projects that can attract future investment and deliver lasting benefits for rivers, wildlife and people

The programme is funded through Thames Water’s £20 million River Health & Communities Fund and forms part of the company’s AMP8 investment cycle.

And this approach is not entirely new. We’ll be learning from the River Chess and River Crane Smarter Water Catchment pilots, both of which have continued beyond their original five-year programmes into a second investment cycle.

The first year will focus on getting the foundations right: building partnerships, strengthening the evidence base, identifying knowledge gaps and understanding where action could have the greatest impact.

👉 Find out more about the Thame Smarter Water Catchment and what happens next in our full article:

Thames Water Freshwater Habitats Trust Environment Agency Chilterns Chalk Streams Project Crane Valley Partnership The Rivers Trust Thames Rivers Trust

A new partnership approach to improving river health across the River Thame catchment

18/08/2026

What does the current drought look like for rivers and streams in the Thame catchment?

Cuttlebrook Nature Reserve volunteers have shared these photos showing sections of the brook drying out. They say that, in 30 years of managing the site, they don’t believe they have seen it dry out before.

For freshwater wildlife, low and disappearing flows mean fewer places to shelter and survive – particularly when high temperatures are adding further stress.

Droughts are becoming an increasingly important part of the conversation about our rivers. Rivers across England are currently experiencing exceptionally low flows, while climate projections point towards hotter, drier summers and increasing pressure from drought.

But this is also a reminder of why the work to restore rivers and create healthier landscapes is so important.

Wetlands, floodplains, ponds, natural river channels and healthy river corridors can all help create more refuge for wildlife and retain water in the landscape. They can help us build rivers and catchments that are better able to cope with both drought and flooding.

And that resilience benefits all of us. Healthy freshwater habitats contribute to cleaner water, more resilient landscapes, flood management, farming and the places we enjoy spending time in.

The Rivers Trust has shared a useful look at what the current drought means for our rivers and what we can do to reduce pressure on them.

Read more: https://theriverstrust.org/about-us/news/drought-and-water-scarcity-summer-2026?fbclid=IwY2xjawTw9sdwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMWJ1QjB0VTBWSEJlcENSZU9zcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeXU1ry5QgMDEk4J9CEYtAVJP8urj6l1j7BOnTFUuGJoowr2hlAyDx0Ecz7As_aem_sIF1yya15yNE_DdmKJVfXQ

17/08/2026

Our first Sketch the River Thame event was a real hit. We were joined by a lovely group of people who each created some fantastic impressions of the river. It was a wonderful opportunity to slow down, sit quietly and take a good look at the natural world in front of us.

Many thanks to long-time RTCT volunteer Nicko, an experienced sketch artist who guided us on how to take a good long look at the river in front of us and translate it into a sketch on the page. And thanks to the Old Fisherman pub in Shabbington, the pub garden along the river was the perfect setting. This event was made possible through funding from the Connected Communities Fund. Community First Oxfordshire

14/08/2026

A year of adventures, conservation and learning! 🌱

Our first New Shoots: River Thame Edition has come to an end, and what a year it’s been. Over 10 monthly sessions, 18 young people aged 14–18 explored the River Thame catchment, getting hands-on with conservation, learning new skills, meeting environmental professionals and building connections with nature and each other.

From rivers and wetlands to farms, woodlands and nature reserves, here’s a flavour of the year:

🌿 1. Bushcraft, fire lighting and outdoor skills (thanks to The Little Firefly - Outdoor Day Nursery and Forest School & Starveall Farm for lending their space)

🐟 2. Riverfly sampling, fish ecology at a recently constructed backwater with Environment Agency Fisheries (and thanks to Holly Green Farm)

🦡 3. Mammal surveys and practical habitat management at Cuttlebrook Nature Reserve with Oxon Mammal Group (and thanks to Thame Town Council)

🐦 4. A behind-the-scenes reserve visit and spectacular starling murmuration at RSPB Otmoor

🌾 5. Discovering sustainable farming, soil health and nature-friendly food production at Bucksum

🦅 6. Exploring conservation and species management both locally and internationally at Waddesdon Estate

🌼 7. Meadow management and hands-on conservation building a dead hedge with The Hurst Water Meadow Trust

🪶 8. Soil testing, bird box building and learning about wool production at Chilton Grounds Farm

🌅 9. A special early start for a dawn chorus and bird conservation session at an MOD Bicester site

🦇 10. Finishing the year with a BBQ celebration and searching for bats, moths and other nocturnal wildlife at Pitchcott Farm

A huge thank you to our partners Chiltern Rangers CIC, Chilterns National Landscape, and everyone who made New Shoots possible — our brilliant partners, hosts, conservation specialists, volunteers and, of course, the young people who brought so much curiosity and enthusiasm to every session.

This first River Thame cohort has shown just how valuable accessible, practical opportunities to connect with nature can be. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built together and excited about the possibility of growing New Shoots in the years ahead.

🌱 Here’s to the first cohort — and hopefully many more to come!

13/08/2026

Last week marked an exciting stage in construction at our Dorchester Fish Passage and Weir Removal Project, as we began carefully lowering water levels below the existing weir.

Over three days, contractors reduced water levels in the section of river where the weir will be removed. A temporary barrier directed flow into the Mill Race, while large pumps safely dried down the construction area.

For those who regularly visit Hurst Water Meadow, you may notice slightly reduced water levels downstream while work is underway. Don’t fret – pumps are transferring water from above the weir to below the work area to maintain flows.

Protecting fish and other aquatic wildlife was a priority throughout. Professional fisheries contractors carefully captured and relocated an encouraging variety of fish, including chub, bream, barbel, tench, perch, pike and roach. The fish were moved to the Mill Race, where there was sufficient depth and continuous flow.

And then came a particularly exciting discovery: a European eel.

Improving passage for this critically endangered, highly migratory species has always been an aim of the project, so finding one here at Buck Pool was especially encouraging. Eels have a long history at this site, where they were once trapped in eel baskets. Thames eels were once plentiful enough to support a thriving fishery, but European eel numbers returning to Europe’s rivers have declined by around 95% since the 1980s, due to pressures including fishing, pollution, habitat loss, barriers to migration and changes affecting their survival at sea.

We haven't had recent records from this part of the Thame for several years, although we assumed eels were likely hanging on in low numbers. This year, one of our volunteers found two eels further upstream in June, followed by this third record at Buck Pool. It’s particularly fitting to find one here as we work to remove the weir and create a new rock ramp, opening up around 18 km of newly passable river habitat.

Now that the work area has been safely dried down, construction of the new rock ramp can begin. We’ll share more updates as this next stage takes shape.

The Hurst Water Meadow Trust Environment Agency

12/08/2026

💧 Fancy spending 20 minutes exploring your local river and helping scientists build a picture of water quality across the UK? 💧

The Great UK WaterBlitz, run by Earthwatch Europe, is taking place from Friday 18 to Monday 21 September.

It’s a national citizen science project where people across the UK test their local rivers, streams, ponds, lakes, canals and wetlands. You don’t need any previous experience – Earthwatch will send you a free testing kit and everything you need to take part.

👉 Find out more and register for the Great UK WaterBlitz:
https://earthwatch.org.uk/greatukwaterblitz

It’s a quick, easy and hands-on way to contribute to a national citizen science project, while exploring your local waterways.

Join the Great UK WaterBlitz and help fight for healthy freshwater. Help us measure water quality across the UK.