Bring Back the Eel: Tell Us What You Think

Background (skip this if you want to go straight to the survey!)

The European eel is one of the most extraordinary animals on the planet. Born thousands of miles away in the Sargasso Sea, it spends the majority of its life in the rivers and streams of the Thames catchment, possibly even in the water at the end of your road. Then, once mature, it makes an epic return journey across the Atlantic to breed.

Right now, the eel is critically endangered. Its population has fallen by more than 95% since the 1980s.

The Thames Catchment Community Eels Project exists to change that: through habitat restoration, removing barriers to migration, education, and bringing communities back into relationship with their local rivers. Your views will directly shape what we do. We want to know what matters to you about your local rivers, what you would like to learn, what you would like to get involved in, and what would make it easier for you to take part. It takes about 5 minutes. There are no right or wrong answers.

Acknowledgement

The Thames Catchment Community Eels Project is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to develop a major programme to restore eel habitats and reconnect communities with river heritage across the Thames catchment.

This project is led by Thames Rivers Trust and delivered in partnership with Action for the River Kennet (ARK), South East Rivers Trust (SERT), Thames21, Medway Swale Estuary Partnership (MSEP), Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust (HMWT), Thames Estuary Partnership (TEP), and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL)

A quick note before you start

Your responses are anonymous. We collect your partial postcode and some optional demographic information to check we are reaching a wide range of people. Thames Rivers Trust is the data controller. Read our full privacy notice here: Privacy Notice

How connected do you feel to your local rivers?* This field is required.

Very connected

Fairly connected

Neutral

Not very connected

Not connected at all

What do you most value about rivers? (Select up to 3)* This field is required.

Wildlife and biodiversity

River restoration

Local history and heritage

Citizen science

Volunteering

Family activities

Schools and education

Climate and sustainability

Outdoor wellbeing

Arts and storytelling

Fishing and angling

Community events

What stops you engaging more with rivers? (Select all that apply)* This field is required.

Activities not near me

Safety concerns

Lack of information or awareness

Not enough time

Events not family-friendly

Cost

Transport difficulties

Events feel inaccessible

Nothing, I already engage regularly

Other

How much did you know about the European eel before today?* This field is required.

A lot

A little

Heard of them but knew nothing

Never heard of them

The European eel is critically endangered and its population has declined by over 95% since the 1980s. How does learning this make you feel?* This field is required.

Deeply concerned

Concerned

Somewhat concerned

Not particularly concerned

How important is it to improve river health for wildlife?* This field is required.

Eels have been part of Thames communities for centuries: in food, place names, folklore, and riverside trades. Does this cultural connection matter to you?* This field is required.

Yes, a lot

Somewhat

Not particularly

I didn't know about it

Is there an eel or river memory connected to your area you would like to share?This could be anything from childhood memories of a local river to a story you've heard passed down in your community. This question is optional - please feel free to skip it if you’d prefer not to answer.

What stories or perspectives do you think are currently missing from conversations about rivers and waterways?For example, certain communities, age groups, or types of river use that you feel don't get much attention. This question is optional - please feel free to skip it if you’d prefer not to answer.

Please give three words to describe the European eel today* This field is required.there are no right or wrong answers - we're just interested in your instinctive response

Which aspects of eel and river heritage would you most like to learn more about? (Select up to 4)* This field is required.

The migration journey of the European eel

Histories of rivers and waterways in my area

Wildlife and biodiversity

Folklore myths and cultural stories about eels and rivers

River industries trades and working heritage

Water quality and environmental change

Climate change and river restoration

Community memories and oral histories

The future of rivers and conservation

Other

Which approaches would be most effective in helping people connect with the project? (Select up to 5)* This field is required.

Signage

Guided walks or trails

Public art

A digital map

Audio stories or oral histories

Short films or animations

Community exhibitions

Creative workshops

School resources and activity packs

Expert-led eel outreach with schools

Citizen science activities

Augmented reality experiences

QR codes

Festivals or live events

Social media campaigns

Online games

Other

Which activities would you be most likely to take part in? (Tick all that apply)* This field is required.

River walks and guided events

School activities

Volunteer conservation days

Citizen science surveys

Eel monitoring

Community events and festivals

Talks and workshops

Arts and heritage projects

Online learning and resources

Practical habitat restoration

None of the above

What would make you more likely to get involved? (Select up to 3)* This field is required.

Activities close to home

Family-friendly events

Weekend or flexible timing

Free events

Better awareness and publicity

Beginner-friendly opportunities

Transport support

More inclusive and accessible events

Opportunities to learn new skills

If you have children or work with young people, would you be interested in eel and river activities designed for schools or youth groups?

Yes very interested

Possibly

Not applicable to me

Are there any barriers that might stop you taking part?For example, physical access, cost, language, caring responsibilities, or anything else we should be aware of. This question is optional - please feel free to skip it if you’d prefer not to answer.

Which outcomes are most important for this project? (Choose up to 3)* This field is required.

Improving river habitats

Helping wildlife recover

Protecting eel migration routes

Educating young people

Supporting community wellbeing

Increasing volunteering opportunities

Improving access to nature

Celebrating river heritage

Tackling climate impacts

Building local pride and long-term stewardship

Do you think projects like TCCEP are important for the future of rivers and communities?* This field is required.

Yes

Unsure

The map below shows the six areas where the Thames Catchment Community Eels Project currently operates. These are the areas where our project partners are based and delivering activities as part of TCCEP. The boundaries are for illustration purposes only and may not be exact at this stage. The following question asks which of these areas you live in or feel most connected to. If your area is not shown or you are not sure, that is fine too.

Which area of the Thames catchment do you live in or feel most connected to?* This field is required.

How do you most often connect with rivers and waterways?We know not everyone lives near a river. This helps us understand the different ways people connect with waterways across the catchment

I live close to one

I visit for leisure or recreation

Through work or volunteering

Through school or education

Online or through media and events

I don't currently connect with rivers

What is the first part of your postcode?* This field is required.

This helps us understand where responses are coming from. We only need the first part of your postcode — for example E10, N17, RG1, GU1, ME4, or TN9. We do not collect full postcodes.

Which best describes your current relationship with rivers and waterways?* This field is required.

I am an active volunteer with a rivers or conservation organisation

I have volunteered in the past but am not currently active

I am a landowner or land manager with riverside or riparian land

I work in an organisation connected to rivers the environment or heritage

I am interested but have not yet been involved

I have no current connection to rivers or conservation

What is your age group?

Under 16

16–24

25–44

45–64

65+

Prefer not to say

Do you consider yourself to be disabled or have a long-term health condition?

Yes

Prefer not to say

How would you describe your ethnicity or cultural background?

English Welsh Scottish Northern Irish or British

Irish

Gypsy or Irish Traveller

Roma

Any other White background

White and Black Caribbean

White and Black African

White and Asian

Any other Mixed or Multiple ethnic background

Indian

Pakistani

Bangladeshi

Chinese

Any other Asian background

African

Caribbean

Any other Black Black British or Caribbean background

Arab

Any other ethnic group

Prefer not to say

How did you find out about this survey?* This field is required.

Thames Rivers Trust website or social media

A partner organisation's website or social media

An email or newsletter

A community event or river walk

A school or youth group

A friend family member or colleague

A QR code on a poster or printed material

Other (please specify by typing in this box)

Is there anything else you would like the project team to consider?This is your space to add anything the questions haven't covered.

Please share this far and wide as we would love to hear from as many people as possible!

Bring Back the Eel: Tell Us What You Think