The Fours Head is committed to running a competition that is as sustainably as is practical. In line with British Rowing’s guidelines, which we support enthusiastically, we are encouraging all competitors, their coaches and supporters to minimise their environmental impact by pledging to take the following five actions, which are relevant for a head race on the Tideway:
- Take your rubbish home so that you can recycle and/or dispose of it properly: public bins will overflow on race day, leading to rubbish being blown into the river.
- Don’t bring a ‘single use’ plastic bottle – even if you’re using it multiple times, if you lose it, it will break up and spread microplastics in the water.
- If you plan to buy a hot drink, bring a reusable cup with you.
- Use public transport where possible (options are listed below), and lift share where driving is the only option.
- Follow the CHECK-CLEAN-DRY protocol if you’re a visiting crew, after your last outing at home before loading for the Fours Head, and before putting it back on your home water afterwards, to stop the spread of invasive species.
Sustainable travel
We recognise that the options for using public transport are more limited in years when the start is fairly early or the race is on a Sunday.
Here are some details of how you can get to various key locations:
PUTNEY
- Tube: Putney Bridge station on the District Line (Wimbledon branch)
- Rail: Putney – trains from London Waterloo
- Bus: Buses from Fulham and Putney Bridge (tfl.gov.uk).
BARN ELMS
- Walk from Putney
- Additionally, buses to Barnes/Red Lion from Sheen, Fulwell or Hammersmith Bridge (Barnes side).
FULHAM REACH/FURNIVALL
Both are best reached via the centre of Hammersmith.
- Tube: Hammersmith on the Circle / Hammersmith & City Line, Piccadilly Line, District Line (Richmond & Ealing branches)
- Bus: Buses from Hammersmith (tfl.gov.uk).
LATYMER, SONS OF THE THAMES
- Tube: Ravenscourt Park on the District Line (one stop west of Hammersmith). Also a short walk from Hammersmith.
ST PAUL’S SCHOOL
- Walk from Hammersmith, crossing the river at Hammersmith Bridge and then walking along the towpath
- Bus from Barnes to Lonsdale Road or Castlenau.
BARNES BRIDGE LADIES, CYGNET, EMANUEL
- Train: Barnes Bridge – trains from London Waterloo
TIDEWAY SCULLERS SCHOOL, QUINTIN, MORTLAKE ANGLIAN AND ALPHA, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON, PUTNEY TOWN
- Train: Mortlake or Chiswick – trains from London Waterloo
- Bus:
- 533 from Hammersmith or north Barnes
- 190 from Richmond or West Brompton
- 272 or E3 from Chiswick
CHISWICK PIER HOUSE (for officials)
- Train: Barnes Bridge (0.8 miles) or Chiswick (0.9 miles)
- Tube: Turnham Green (District Line – 1.1 miles)
- Bus: E3 (last stop: Edensor Road / New Chiswick Pool) from Chiswick, including Turnham Green station.
If a car is your only practical method of transport, please try to lift share.
The Fours Head 