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Image shows a photograph of the front cover of Thames Water's Teddington Direct River Abstraction Statutory Consultation Brochure June 2025. The previous text is on the left hand side (blue on white) and an image of tall pink flowers with the river blurred in the background is on the right.

5th September 2025 in Environment, News

Kew Society opposes the Thames Direct River Abstraction scheme

Kew Society opposes Thames Water's Teddington Direct River Abstraction scheme in our submission to the statutory consultation process.

Image shows a building site underneath a railway bridge. There is a metal barrier with yellow sign Danger unsafe structure in front of a wall of wooden planks installed against the brick fabric of the bridge. The brick work looks old and dirty. The metal work of the bridge is rusty.

25th August 2025 in Environment

Investigation work at Kew Railway Bridge enters new phase

Investigation work at Kew Railway Bridge enters new phase to determine the cause of the structural damage.

A large black metal gate is blocking a grey tarmac pathway. The path trails into the distance where we can just see the river. Safety signage is displayed on the gate. There is a red "danger deep excavation keep out follow diversion" sign as well as a "no access to Kew/Kew Gardens please follow diversion route" sign in yellow. These are displayed on a green billboard to the right of the gate.

4th August 2025 in Environment

Reopening of the Thames Towpath delayed

Reopening of the Thames towpath between Kew Gardens and Richmond Lock delayed due to the challenging nature of the worksite.

Image of a large 4 engined airctaft flying over the chimney stacks of a house in Kew

1st August 2025 in Environment

Heathrow’s Third Runway: What’s at stake for Kew?

Earlier this year, plans to build a third runway at Heathrow Airport re-emerged with full government backing, reviving a long-standing and polarising debate. A briefing document on the third runway debate, written by Kew Society Member Dr Roger Mason, is a timely contribution to discussions in the light of today's announcement by Heathrow Airport of their proposed modernisation and expansion plans.

20th June 2025 in Environment

Thames Water launches consultation for Teddington Direct River Abstraction

Thames Water invites communities, customers and stakeholders to share their views on the updated proposals for the Teddington Direct River Abstraction (TDRA) project, which it describes as "a vital drought resilience project for London".

19th June 2025 in Community

TfL introduces level access announcement at Kew Gardens Station

Kew Society's perseverance results in the introduction of a new "level access" announcement on tube trains arriving from the east at Kew Gardens Station.

Image shows a teen aged girl bending over a table of art things. She is drawing on a pebble. she is wearing a grey sweatshirt and her hair is in a long pony tail. There are lots of different colours of paint in bottles on the table and some paint is poured out on a palette. The table is in an outside area with gravel underfoot. There are plants in the background on a wooden trestle table. It appears to be a garden centre and there are picnic blankets on the ground

8th June 2025 in Environment, Community

Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme student completes volunteering role with Kew Society

Student completes 6 months volunteering with Kew Society as part of the Silver Level of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme .

Image shows a stone pathway curving up the centre of a lush green garden. Either side of the light grey paved path are plants with leaves of all shapes, sizes, textures and greens. The path runs under a wooden frame covered in climbing plants. There is a high brick wall at the end of the path and a fence running along the left hand side.

7th June 2025 in Green Spaces

Shades of Green in the heart of Kew

Kew Society Head Gardener Anna Anderson opens her garden on July 6 as part of the National Garden Scheme. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how a small shade plot can be transformed into a green oasis.

Image shows a large black beetle in the centre crawling on dead roots and cut shoots. It has large deep red spiked pincers.

3rd June 2025 in Green Spaces, Environment

Endangered Stag Beetle found at Kew Gardens Station

An endangered stag beetle, spotted making its way down the steps of the subway at Kew Gardens Station, has been re-homed to a safer spot by Kew Society volunteers.

22nd May 2025 in Planning, News

Supermarket plans at Kew Retail park spark local debate

A planning application to convert the current Sports Direct unit at Kew Retail Park into a new food retail space has sparked mixed reactions from residents and local businesses and could offer a useful moment for wider community debate.

Image of Pensford Field conservation area showing a wildflower meadow and trees behind. An information board is in the foreground

2nd May 2025 in Environment

Pensford Field Update

Richmond Council publishes a Statutory Notice on the future of Pensford Field, Kew.

Image shows a winter scene with grey skies and a high river. The water appears a muddy colour. The path is collapsed and the river is flowing through the breach. We can see broken trees in the foreground and a grey metal barrier at the other side of the breach.

23rd April 2025 in Environment

Major repair works commence on Thames Towpath breach

Richmond Council announces that the major repair work at the Thames Towpath Breach has commenced and is due for completion summer 2025.

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