THAMES TRAIL FOLLOW COLIN THE CORMORANT ALONG THE THAMES TRAIL – HE’LL ASK YOU QUESTIONS ON THE WAY! Cormorants are water birds, and many of them live along the Thames. They dive into the water to catch fish and eels. Underwater, they propel themselves with their webbed feet. After swimming, they can often be seen holding their wings outstretched to dry in the sun. Can you spot some cormorants along the Thames Trail?
LET’S GO!
1. CUTTY SARK
The Cutty Sark is one of the world’s most famous ships – it is the last surviving tea clipper, the fastest and greatest of her time, which transported tea between Europe and the East Indies. Look out for other kinds of boats while you’re on the Thames Trail – write down any other kinds you see. What do you think those boats might be used for?
2. BARGES
Barges used to bring coal for the power station. Can you think of things that might be transported by boat today?
3. CRANE STREET
Crane Street used to have lots of pubs for the river workers. Can you find a pub there now? Why do you think there aren’t as many pubs here now?
4. GREENWICH POWER STATION
Greenwich Power station used to produce energy for London’s trams. How do you think buses, trains and the tube are powered today?
5. ENDERBY’S WHARF
Telegraph cables were transported from Enderby’s Wharf to America in Victorian times. They were invented by the famous engineer Brunel and helped people to send long-distance messages. How many ways can you think of sending messages today?
6. MORDEN WHARF
Morden Wharf is named after Sir John Morden, who set up almshouses in Blackheath. ‘Alms’ means charity money for the poor. Can you think of any famous people who help charities to raise money today?
7. SMELLY
The Molassine Mealworks was a dog biscuit factory, and used to make a smell called the ‘Greenwich pong’. Can you see other factories? What can you smell on the river today?
8. DANGER
It used to be a very dangerous job to work on barges on the Thames. Can you think of any jobs today that are dangerous? Why do you think people do dangerous jobs?
9. CLEAN AND DIRTY
In the Victorian times, the Thames was one of the dirtiest rivers in Europe, but now it’s one of the cleanest in Europe – people have even caught salmon swimming in it. What do you think made it dirty before, and why do you think it’s much cleaner now?
10. TRANSPORT
Imagine you are going to a concert at the O2 Arena (it is now a music venue). How many different ways can you think of to get there? Clue: the O2 Arena is at North Greenwich tube station.
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11. PLACE NAMES
How many place names can you remember with river features like wharf, quay, pier or dock?
THE END!
PUBLISH YOUR PHOTOS
Don’t forget to email your photos to louise@viewfinder.org.uk to have them published on the Thames Trail Peninsula Pals Zone: www.flickr.com/photos/ thamestrailgreenwich/sets Put your name and age if you’d like those to be included with your photographs.
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ADULTS: ANSWER SHEET
1. CUTTY SARK
7. SMELLY
Examples include: Thames Clipper passenger boats, barges, rowing boats.
Any smell identified by the child, such as the smell of the beach or the smell from boats.
2. BARGES
8. DANGER
Examples include: gravel, sand, food from overseas, textiles.
Examples include: working in a mine or being a soldier. Reasons why people might do dangerous jobs today include not being able to find a safer job, some dangerous jobs paying better than some safe jobs, or being patriotic (eg in the army or navy).
3. CRANE STREET
Trafalgar Tavern or The Yacht. Factories and the gas works have closed, and their workers were the main customers for local pubs so many pubs have closed. 4. GREENWICH POWER STATION
Energy sources: Buses: Diesel or Diesel-electric hybrid, some are hydrogen-fuelled Trams: Electricity (some of which comes from renewable energy sources) Tube: Electricity from Greenwich Gas Turbine Plant (Gasoil) 5. ENDERBY’S WHARF
Examples include: email, mobile phone, landlines, text message, sending a letter. 6. MORDEN WHARF
Examples include: the Queen and Richard Branson.
9. CLEAN AND DIRTY
Pollution from industry and from poor sewerage made the river dirty. Now there are strict laws against pollution, and many riverside industries have closed. 10. TRANSPORT
Getting to North Greenwich: by tube (London Underground), cable car, bus, boat, car, walking, bike – there is even a helipad for helicopters to land. 11. PLACE NAMES
Any place names or street names featuring wharf, quay, pier or dock — examples include: Morden Wharf, Enderby’s Wharf, and Greenwich Pier.