Old father Thames has been a bit neglected of late. His beard’s full of crumbs and dust, and his regal clothes are a bit tatty and torn. Remember poor old David Walliam’s stomach churning swim from its source?

The river was spruced up a bit for the Jubilee celebrations, and didn’t Beckham look like a kid surrounded by presents on Christmas Day as he steered that speedboat under Tower Bridge?

Slip past the new cable-car crossing down to the shiny silvery gates of the Thames barrier, then the slug-brown waters of the river pretty much ebb and flow from many people’s minds; resurfacing briefly weekdays as the drumbeats of Eastenders imposes those ox-bow bends onto our conscience.

The Thames has so much to offer. In its impenetrable waters there are porpoises, sea-horses, eels and mussels. Its fields of sea-grass absorb more carbon than forests of equal size. It’s still very much a working river, being the UK’s second busiest port. It supports commercial fishing operations, water sports and includes two of Europe’s busiest shipping lanes.

The mighty Thames, looking westwards towards Canary Wharf and the City from Rainham Marshes (c) Rolf WilliamsIts banks harbour gas terminals, power stations, salt marshes, mud flats, fish nurseries and unique habitats that make it of global importance for wildlife. Culturally it’s inspired Dickens, Mary Shelley and was described by John Burns, the late 19th and early 20th century trade unionist and politician as ”liquid history".

The Roman’s used it, Viking’s stormed up it, the Windrush docked at Tilbury and it was vital during both World Wars. It remains a gateway to the UK for goods, services, people and of course, lots of wildlife.

The RSPB owns and manages some 50 square kilometres of land along both banks of the Thames and operates more than a dozen nature reserves. 300,000 birds winter in the estuary, while overhead, many thousand more navigate along its meandering route every spring and autumn.

This busy working watery world demands some TLC. It is already a mighty river, but it could win gold worthy of being draped proudly round the neck of our Olympic standard capital city. We’re not talking about pimping the Thames. We’re pursuing a deeper and more permanent transformation for the estuary, its communities and its wildlife

Join us in celebrating and enhancing our Thames heritage. Help us protect it from unsuitable and inappropriate development. Shout “je Thames!” and then email “Non!” to Transport Minister Justine Greening.