Page 100 - NT 2022 Almanac

Swan Upping
During the third week of July, the
tradition of ‘Swan Upping’ takes place
on the River Thames. This is a ceremony in which mute swans are caught by people in special boats called ‘skiffs’. The swans are then ‘ringed’, which means they have numbered rings put on their legs so that we know how many swans there are. They are then released back to the river.
River Clean-Up
There are ‘clean-ups’ in rivers all over the UK. These are organised events in which people come together to help clear away plastic and other rubbish which sadly finds its way into rivers and streams and causes all kinds of problems for the wildlife that lives there.
Getting involved in a clean-up is a lot of fun if you get together with your friends and make a day of it. The events often happen in secret natural spaces which you might not have been to before. It also gives you a chance to help save the
environment and make life better for wild animals. You can take the plastic you find to recycling centres or supermarkets which will take plastic bags and film wrap as
well as bottles and cans.
If you want to find a clean-up near you, go to www.ukrivers.net and follow the links, or if you are near the Thames or any of the rivers and streams which flow into the Thames, look at www.thames21.org.uk for more information.
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