The annual Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge Universities is here again on Sunday 7 April - and this year it is going green, on both sides of the river.

Hammersmith & Fulham Council says it is aiming to make the event as environmentally friendly as possible.

Among the measures are depositable cup schemes for bars in Boat Race fan zones, bans on disposable plastics from caterers and more recycling bin bags along the riverside.

This year’s sponsor for the event is a bottled water company which will be handing out free samples to spectators. To minimise the amount of single-use plastic bottles, the council has requested they operate only in the designated fan zones in Bishops Park and Furnivall Gardens and not along the river walk.

Caterers at the event have been told they are not allowed to use any disposable plastic items. And through the depositable cup scheme, bar-goers can pay a small deposit, which is returned when they return their cup.

Litter picks in the fan zones and alongside the river will take place throughout the day and a major litter pick is scheduled for later that afternoon as part of Keep Britain Tidy's Great British Spring Clean campaign.

Volunteers from recycling organisation, Every Can Counts will also be litter picking through Furnivall Gardens, targeting drinks cans throughout the day.

The council says that next year, to further reduce the amount of single-use plastics it will not be allowing bottled water companies to hand out plastic bottles.

Across the river meanwhile, Putney’s pubs will be serving up pints on Boat Race day in reusable cups, slashing plastic waste at the Capital’s biggest river sporting event.

Organised and ordered by Positively Putney Business Improvement District (BID), 14,000 reusable cups will be used by eight pubs along the river and on the high street.

People will be able to reuse their cups or return them to the pubs, which can then be washed and re-used up to 50 times, potentially saving tens of thousands of single use plastics ending up in the river or landfill in one day.

After the races, local volunteers the Putney Tidy Towpath Group will be clearing litter dropped by spectators along the towpath.

Wandsworth Council is also reminding the rowing community of the importance of preventing plastics and other waste materials from polluting the river, as spelled out in the Rowers' Charter.

Local Fan Parks run from noon until 8pm in sections of Bishops Park in Fulham and Furnivall Gardens in Hammersmith. These events are free and includes food stalls, bars, large spectator screens and other activities.

The race timetable is as follows, with the races starting at Putney Bridge and ending at Chiswick Bridge:

The Women's Race - 2.13pm

Osiris V Blondie (Women's Reserve) Race - 2.30pm

Isis V Blondie (Men's Reserve) Race - 2.45pm

The Men's Race - 3.10pm

Waiting and loading restrictions will be in place on streets close to Furnivall Gardens, Hammersmith, with advanced warning signs on lampposts near affected areas.

Hammersmith Bridge will be closed from 1.30pm to 4pm to allow spectators to watch the race. Warning signs for motorists have been placed around Hammersmith Gyratory and approaching roads.

Some parking bays will be suspended on Stevenage Road, Fulham, Rutland Grove, Hammersmith, and alongside Digby Mansions, Hammersmith. These are to allow access for event vehicles.

 

The Boat Races course from start at Putney Bridge to finish at Chiswick Bridge

Find out more at the Boat Race website.

April 3, 2019