The New River Path in North London has been rejuvenated in an effort to make it appealing to pedestrians and cyclists this summer.
The river, which flows through Enfield, has a walkway which has been open to the public for several years, which has now been cleared of all the mud and debris, as of 18 June.
Thames Water invested £1.3million into the development and describes New River as the cleanest waterway in London due to its supply of fresh drinking water from Hertfordshire to North London.
A Thames Water spokesperson said: “It’s been a massive job, and it couldn’t have been done without the help and support of many organisations including Groundwork, London’s Waterway Partnership, Countryside Agency, New River Action Group, Friends of New River Walk, schools and communities, and all the local authorities along the route.”
Along with clean drinking water for the public, having clear waterways is essential for wildlife, according to The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).
An RSPB spokesperson said: “Clean water in our rivers is vital for healthy habitats.
“The wide range of wildlife dependent on our rivers has adapted to and depends on the low levels of nutrients in the water.
“With higher levels of nutrients from waste water, this favours a smaller number of plant species which are able to take advantage of the higher nutrient levels to grow more, reducing the diversity of plant species present, and any animal species dependent on them.
“In extreme cases, nutrient levels can also lead to algal blooms which lead to oxygen loss in the water, resulting in fish losses.”
The detailed map created by Thames Water gives information to walkers where to walk, access for wheelchair users, and advice on feeding the wildlife.
For more information, visit the Thames Water website.
Feature image: Nigel Cox under Creative Commons BY-SA 2.0
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