250 guests joined the Thames Landscape Strategy with The Father Thames Trust for the virtual 2021 Annual Meeting. We were delighted that the new Patron of the Father Thames Trust, Janina Ramirez was able to join us and deliver a key note message. Janina had been filming all day and rushed home to join us – a huge thank you from everyone at the Father Thames Trust!
We were also joined by our friends from Virginia. We heard from Chief Steve Adkins from the Chickahominy Tribe and Chief Anne Richardson of the Rappahannock Tribe to hear of their tremendous achievements following U.S. Federal recognition. The tribes have been busy repatronating lost tribal lands along the James and Rappahannock Rivers, committed to a conservation led future. Also speaking from Virginia was Leighton Powell (Scenic Virginia), Rick Tatnel (The Pocahontas Project) and Michael Burton (The James River Park System).
Chaired by Cllr Barry Cheyne, we also heard from playwright Kieron Knowles about his new play Rewilding Arcadia, Elliot Newton about potential beaver reintroduction and Colin Cooper from Habitats and Heritage. Doug Hill and James Brand updated us on progress of the Thames flood risk management schemes and Jason Debney talked about the latest developments at the Thames Landscape Strategy.
Watch the full meeting by following this link https://youtu.be/mor9f4WLktU
