Launching River Thames Reflections: Dive into the project

Hello! I am Safi - the researcher behind River Thames Reflections, a PhD project exploring the outdoor swimming community of England's longest river: the Thames. Supported by ESRC and Cardiff University, over the course of the next three years, I will research experiences of people who swim in the River Thames.

Having grown up in Oxfordshire, I spent my childhood swimming in the Thames, a habit that has followed me into adulthood. Like so many others, through the Covid-19 lockdowns I developed a love for outdoor swimming year round, seeing me dip in the river's waters on the coldest of days. As I swam, my awareness of the issues facing this river - and so many others across the UK - grew. Many of us now know that our rivers are under threat, with pollution from the privatised water industry, intensive agriculture, and our cities polluting water bodies.

My childhood stretch of the River Thames - Spring 2023.

However, I also noticed the hope, optimism and activism amongst many of those who I swam with. This project seeks to explore this community of outdoor swimmers, asking what the River Thames means to them and what they mean for the river. I want to explore the motivations of river swimmers, delving into their rituals, experiences and encounters. I also want to give a voice to the River Thames in this project, exploring what it might want to say if we can learn to listen.

This website will provide updates on my research, commencing with my journey along the length of the River Thames in June. If you want to get involved, don't hesitate to reach out.