World Rivers Day: how the Beverley Brook shapes Richmond's flood resilience
26 September 2026 · By Boroughly editorial — AI-assisted, human-reviewed.
Sunday 27 September is World Rivers Day — a global moment to reflect on the waterways that run through our communities, and for Richmond that means the Beverley Brook.
The brook is an 8.9-mile river that begins at Cuddington Recreation Ground in Worcester Park and winds through Sutton, Kingston, Merton and Wandsworth before reaching Richmond and joining the Thames. For much of its length it passes through dense urban terrain, which makes it what hydrologists call a 'flashy' river: because roads, rooftops and paved surfaces prevent rainfall from soaking into the ground, water drains quickly into the brook, causing levels to rise fast after heavy rain.
The challenge is compounded when a downpour coincides with a high tide on the Thames, reducing the brook's capacity to discharge and raising the risk of localised flooding for nearby residents and properties.
Richmond Council says it has been working to understand how water moves through the brook and its wider catchment, with the aim of making the area more resilient to future flood events. That work is ongoing.
If you live or walk near the brook, World Rivers Day is a useful prompt to check whether your home insurance covers flood risk and to look at the Environment Agency's flood-risk checker.
More on the council's approach is at the Richmond Council World Rivers Day page.