Who we are

Thames Explorer Trust is a charity that raises awareness of the River Thames through a range of educational activities.

From our headquarters on the banks of the Thames at Chiswick, West London, we run learning programmes that get people out onto the foreshore to engage hands-on with the history, ecology and geography of the UK’s most famous river.

We have over 30 years’ experience running fieldwork programmes that meet National Curriculum objectives in geography, history, science, art and citizenship in a truly memorable way.

How we started

The Trust was set up as an educational charity in 1988 by a group of people concerned for the future of the Thames. From small beginnings, the organisation has grown, establishing itself as an expert in Thames-related matters. Our team includes Simon Clarke the Trust Director, Heather Hyams our Trust Manager, Sam Mills our Trust Officer/Project Manager and our highly experienced freelance teachers.

Thames Explorer Trust founder Alison Taylor with trust director Simon Clarke.

We work to teach people about the Thames so that everyone can take a part in planning a healthy future for the river. We want to give people from all parts of the community the chance to engage with the river – on the towpath, on the foreshore and on the river itself.