Creekside Discovery Centre in Deptford is recovering from a year of lockdown with a new vitality thanks to its partnership with the super sewer project.

Generous support from Tideway, the company expanding the city’s 150-year-old sewer, is breathing new life into the charity, and its commitment to helping really wild wildlife flourish in a unique urban environment.

The company stepped in to help keep the centre running during lockdown and has just launched its support for a host of new activities for local residents and Londoners.

Jill Goddard, charity founder, said: “The Tideway support is critical. Pre-covid, Creekside Discovery Centre saw 7,000 people a year; we can get back to that with new events that showcase the creek and how urban regeneration and wildlife can work together to make spaces for people better.”

Tideway is supporting seven new programmes including, public training for mapping local wildlife; land and tide walks; family learning aimed at Londoners, children and students; specialised certificated courses in creek know-how; and knowledge-sharing events aimed at developers and regeneration professionals.

Kelly Bradley, Community Investment Manager at Tideway, said: “We are making a huge investment in London’s sewerage system – but once the tunnel is complete, it won’t be visible.

“Tideway wants to make sure the legacy of this work is seen through the wildlife and people who benefit from it – and supporting Creekside is a way to continue to tell Londoners about the lega-cy of the tunnel beneath their feet. The partnership also supports our wider vision for the Tide-way project to reconnect Londoners with their river.”

Deptford Creek is London’s only Thames creek. At low tide you can wade safely with our guide’s help. Its waters and muddy banks are home to shrimps, crabs, fish, birds and 300 species of wildflowers. With a history of fishing and ship building, it’s a mudlarkers dream (permit permitting).

The charity was established in 1999 in response to heavy regeneration in the area. It works with developers and the natural landscape to save London’s wildlife for future generations. A timeta-ble of outdoor learning helps schools and the public explore a constantly changing habitat - right on their doorstep.

Tideway is building a 25km super sewer to prevent millions of tonnes of untreated sewage entering the River Thames. Around 65 per cent complete, the tunnel will be operational in 2025. This massive engineering project taking place under the Thames will have a huge impact on the quality of the river for all Londoners and minimise pollution for the wildlife.

Scroll down for a photo gallery.

To visit Creekside Discovery Centre visit: https://www.creeksidecentre.org.uk/