Chiswick Pier Trust newsletter - July 2016
A Sunny Hello!
So, it looks like Summer is finally here, and the sunshine has
arrived just in time for our annual Party on the Pier this
Sunday. We do hope you can join us – it’s a great day out
for all the family! The main event starts at 11:30am, and we
are very pleased to announce that we will once again be
offering free boat trips on the Thames, courtesy of Fullers, on
the Princess Freda, a Dunkirk Little Ship. There will also be
Fullers beer at our bar, and Will from Barn Bacon will be kept
busy on the BBQ. There will be stalls as usual, plus a
chance to try out canoeing with the Chiswick Pier Canoe
Club. The little ones will be kept busy with river-dipping with
Thames Explorer Trust, Amanda’s Action Club and face
painting. Helping us to relax and soak up the atmosphere by
the river will be live music from ever-popular band
Shenanigans. Please see the link for more details and full
timings for all events.
We look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible
– bring your friends, family, neighbours....all are welcome!
Here at the Pier
Sunday 24th July from 11.30am
Party on the Pier
Tuesday 11th August 10am to
3pm
Watercolour Painting Day
Saturday 3rd September from
12.30pm
Great River Race Party
Upcoming events
Painting our bird-life at the Pier
The Pier is looking particularly picturesque at the moment and is flooded with colour and
wildlife. If, like us, you are feeling inspired by all this sunshine and nature, why not join us for a
day of painting? We have invited artist Janet Weight Reed to host a day of tuition in the art of
water-colour painting at Pier House on Wednesday 17th August. Renowned for her love and
use of colour, Janet will guide us through the creative process, and help us to use water-colour
paints to capture the Pier’s river birds, and their environment. It doesn’t matter if you are a
beginner or an expert … all are welcome! The session will run from 10:00am – 3:00pm and the
cost for the day will be £25 (or £22 for members). Please see our website for more details and
booking information.
Totally Thames – Full Line-up of Events Announced
September sees the return of ‘Totally Thames’, the annual, month-long celebration of the
Thames. The full season of events has just been published, and features a packed programme
of over 150 arts, cultural, archaeological and river events, spanning the full length of the
Thames. Highlights include two very special events taking place at Chiswick Pier, as part of the
celebrations.
On Saturday 3rd September the Pier will be hosting an event to celebrate the Great River
Race. Spectators of the race, which runs upstream from Docklands to Ham, will enjoy a
fantastic vantage point at Chiswick Pier. The will be a Fullers’ bar and Chiswick Pier Trust will be
serving snacks and refereshments.
The Great River Race is a gruelling 21 mile course that attracts both the true racer and the
leisure rower. Around 330 crews from all over the globe take part – all traditional style, with a
minimum of 4 oars or paddles and carrying a cox and passenger. The race begins at Docklands
at 12:25pm on a “slowest first, fastest last” handicap basis. The first boats should be passing
Chiswick Pier by 2:20pm with the winner arriving at Ham at around 3:25pm. The Pier House
and bar will be open from 12.30pm, please do join us!
Later in the month, we will be kicking off our ever-popular season of ‘Winter Talks’ at Pier House
with a look at the life and times of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. Often referred to as England’s
greatest gardener, he worked for kings, prime ministers and admirals, and was responsible for
landscaping over 170 parks surrounding the finest country houses in Britain. Famous for his
pioneering work with water in the landscape, there is little doubt that he took inspiration from
living alongside the Thames. As well as raising his family in Hammersmith, he worked in 27
London boroughs bordering the Thames, and was appointed by George III as Chief Gardener at
Hampton Court Palace. Other traces of his work still exist along the Thames, in places such as
Kew Gardens and Syon Park. We have arranged for writer and historian Steffie Shields to share
some surprising, little-known stories about his life and works with us at Pier
House. Entitled‘Capital Capability’, the illustrated talk will take place on Tuesday 27th
September at 7:30pm.
Refreshments and signed copies of Steffie’s new book ‘Moving Heaven & Earth, Capability
Brown’s Gift of Landscape’, will be available to purchase. For more information please see
ourwebsite.
New! Chiswick Pier Family Trail
Our latest, self-guided walking trail made its debut at last week’s Super Saturday of Sport on
Turnham Green. The event, opened by local sporting personality Clare Balding, was in aid of
getting Chiswickians outdoors and trying as many sports and recreational activities as
possible. It was fitting, therefore, that Chiswick Pier Trust was there to encourage families and
children to get outside this summer and enjoy a nature walk along the Thames. The trails starts
at the Pier and takes you for a short walk along the Thames Path, and then down to the
playground at Dukes Meadows. Along the way, children are encouraged to look out for river
markings, birds and trees and learn more about staying safe on the water.
your copy of the trail at our Party on the Pier.
You can pick up
Other news and events
Canal and River Trust launch the Great Wildlife Nature App
Download this new app to record the wildlife you see and hear when you are out and about near
the water. It’s part of the Trust’s Great Nature Watch campaign, hoping to monitor and protect
riverside flora and fauna. https://canalrivertrust.org.uk
Plans Revealed for a Garden Bridge at Barnes
Barnes Town Centre Manager, Emma Robinson, has announced plans to create a garden-style
walkway, which will link Barnes to Chiswick. The walkway would be created on the original but
now disused part of Barnes Bridge that was built in 1849 to a design by Joseph Locke. The next
step is a feasibility study, and a full costing of the project, which would be used to make
applications for funding to the Mayor of London and the National Lottery.
RYA Powerboat and Safety Boat Training - Hammersmith
London Corinthian Sailing Club is an RYA approved training centre on the Thames in
Hammersmith. They are offering a two day RYA Level 1 & 2 Powerboat course which
will equip you to drive a powerboat and a two day RYA safety boat course so you can act as
an escort craft, safety boat or coach boat for water sports: a fleet of dinghies, windsurfers, rowing
boats or canoes. Or for racing or training. To find out more, please [email protected] or
call 020 8748 3280.
RNLI Launches its new ‘Respect the Water’ Campaign
‘Respect the Water’ is the new national drowning prevention campaign from The RNLI. The
campaign is running nationally, and is warning people of the dangers of unexpectedly entering
the water, and the threats of unexpected waves, tides, the power of rip currents and the
debilitating effects of cold water. The campaign is offering vital safety advice on how to stay out
of danger, what to do should people find themselves in trouble, and what to do should they see
someone else in danger.
Dragonfly Week – 23 to 31 July – London Wetlands Centre, Barnes
The British Dragonfly Society will be resident at the London Wetland Centre in Barnes to answer
all your dragonfly questions and pass on their top tips for identification. With sunshine and
patience, you may be able to spot all of the reserve’s 22 species! http://www.wwt.org.uk/wetlandcentres/london
Great River Swim – 27 August – Chiswick Pier
This is a group swim with an escort boat, starting at Chiswick Pier, along Chiswick Mall and
around Chiswick Eyot. The temperature will be around 16 degrees Celsius so wetsuits will be
permitted! For more information, please email [email protected]
Totally Thames – 1- 30 September
Month long festival celebrating the Thames, with over 150 events taking place up and down the
42 miles of the Thames. http://totallythames.org/
Tide Fest – 11 September – Strand-on-the-Green
Annual event to celebrate the recreational importance of the Thames Tideway at Strand-on-the
Green, Chiswick and other locations from Richmond to Barnes. This year the programme
includes kayaking, river dipping, guided foreshore walks, boat trips, an angling competition,
nature reserve visits, artists displays, seine netting, live fish tanks, children’s games,
refreshments and much more. http://totallythames.org/events/info/tidefest-2016
And finally....
One of the most wonderful things about the richness of our language, is that when it is combined with
our love of animals and birds, it creates a seemingly never-ending variety of collective nouns that all
mean ‘group’. This week, at the Pier, we came up with an alternative collective noun for a group of
swans. We spotted a ‘bevy’ of them sailing down to Strand-on-the-Green one morning, and decided,
as they looked so purposeful and regal, that a ‘flotilla’ of swans was much more apt. It got us
wondering whether any of our friends and neighbours at the Pier have ever come up with their own
alternatives… or have a particular favourite? Pertinent riverside groups include ‘a plump of
moorhens’, ‘a siege of herons’, and ‘a flight of cormorants’ plus, our own favourite, ‘a prattle of
parrots.’ Now, that one is spot on!