Year 4 had an exciting visit to the Thames Explorer Trust, where we became river investigators for the day. We headed down to the foreshore of the River Thames at low tide and explored the muddy riverbank to see what had been washed up. We searched for different materials along the shore. We found natural items such as shells, stones and pieces of wood, but we also discovered plastic, metal and other litter. By sorting what we collected, we were able to think carefully about what these materials mean for the health of our river. We discussed how rubbish can harm wildlife and why it is so important to reduce, reuse and recycle. We also carried out a scientific investigation to test the pH balance of the river water. Using special testing strips, we discovered whether the water was more acidic or more alkaline. We learnt that a healthy river needs a balanced pH so that plants and animals can survive and thrive.
