Rivers Trust responds to open water swim company's closure
The chief executive of a conservation charity has responded to the closure of an open water swimming events firm.
Henley Swim had been running events on the River Thames for more than 20 years before it was forced to close down at the start of the month after "relentless publicity" over water quality in the river led to a drop in numbers entering its swims.
Responding to the news, Mark Lloyd, chief executive of The Rivers Trust, said: "We are incredibly sorry to hear the news that Henley Swim has stopped trading and that their events this year will not go ahead.
"Since we were the official charity partner for Henley Swim Festival in 2022, The Rivers Trust has attended the event every year and we were due to attend again in July 2025.
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"We have also worked year-round with their team to advocate for increased environmental awareness and safe river swimming."
Mr Lloyd said the closure of Henley Swim shows there is "much more to do both to address river pollution and to help the public make informed decisions about swimming".
He added: "Despite the immense challenges our rivers are facing, The Rivers Trust firmly believes that safe river swimming is possible in the UK, but swimmers must be aware of the risks and take necessary precautions when doing so.
"We will continue to fight for our vision of wild, healthy, natural rivers that can be enjoyed by swimmers and river users alike."
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