I've actually swum in the river myself so if I can, the trout can

David Bellamy

David Bellamy told BBC Online that he was delighted to be involved in the scheme, particularly as he was born and bred near the Wandle.

"There's a high-tech trout rearing tank so kids can rear the trout up and later this year they will go into the river.

"I think they will breed pretty fast."

Classroom treatment

The River Wandle, once one of England's finest trout rivers, has been cleaned up in recent years.

"I've actually swum in the river myself so if I can, the trout can," said Mr Bellamy.

Alan Suttie, who set up the Jet Set Club, said: "Water voles are next and we also intend to encourage the reintroduction of salmon and native crayfish to the river and to boost populations of the stag beetle, butterflies, bats and more," he said.

The scheme marks the first part of a nationwide initiative called The 2002 Project.

It is backed by the Shell Better Britain Campaign and aims to promote and research sustainability programmes that have sprung up across the UK since the Rio Earth Summit a decade ago.