How can paddleboarders keep waterways clean?
Sorry peeps, but we probably can't. However warmer days do mean more people willing to join us for litter picks. Loads of 2024 litterpick dates below, plus some of the challenges for canal users.
It’s happened again
Those three terrible words. This time not about another flytipping, but referring to the Grand Union Canal which offers a blue space as it flows through west London from the Midlands to the Regent’s Canal junction in Maida Vale.
Deliberately dumped
In February 2024 it was reported by local and national media that cooking oil had been “deliberately dumped” in the Grand Union Canal (Paddington arm) from a dark kitchen. This slowly affected six miles of canal, dangerously impacting wildlife.
You can read this clip here, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-68424953
Taken away
The photos of coots sticky, cold and struggling to swim are just horrible. To save them wildlife was removed from the canal. “Taken away,” say the reports. Imagine a waterway with no sound just before nesting season. And thank you Swan Sanctuary for your expertise.
It’s happened again
Now it’s mid March and this week I’ve been told that “it’s happened again”. I think everyone’s question who uses waterways is why doesn’t the Environment Agency do something?
Bad month for the canal
The time I spend paddleboarding on the canal is usually so lovely, but as my colleagues have pointed out “this has been a bad month for the canal”. Too right: level 3 pollution on the Grand Union and Regent’s Canal that got the Canal & River Trust into an unexpected and expensive clean up. Meanwhile further East a five-year-old girl fell into the Regent’s Canal and drowned. She lived in accommodation provided by the Peabody Housing Association who’ve been asked why there isn’t a fence.
Looking on the bright side - clean up dates 2024
Every year the organisations investing in waterways organise clean-ups. They love you to join. It’s often free to do this, so you get a great opportunity to play in a Canadian canoe, kayak or even paddleboard as you litter pick.
There’s a big irony in all our litter picking as we fuel up for it with snacks wrapped in plastic, often getting ourselves to meeting points in diesel and petrol-fuelled vehicles. OK, litter picking is not tackling the climate crisis or over-consumption BUT, we’re doing something. Keeping on top of the litter locally is a great way to connect better with where you live. And it definitely helps people (especially city dwellers) reverse the impact of nature disconnect, because if you don’t know what’s there, you’re not going to miss it, or love it.
Happy litter picking paddleboarders. See you on the water soon!
Keep Britain Tidy is running the Great Britain School Clean from 15-31 March – you pledge to collect a bag of litter (not necessarily from water!)
Paddleboarding London, from its Camden base, is working with Uocean for a two-hour litter pick on Saturday 23 March, and more are planned. Also see Uocean
The Great British Spring Clean Litter Pick, run by Canal & River Trust is Saturday 28 March.
the Big Paddle Clean Up is 29 May – 9 June, run by Paddle UK (formerly British Canoeing)
Great Big Green Week is 8-16 June. It’s a celebration of comunity action to tackle climate change and protect nature.
Book your friends/colleagues on a half day litter pick with Moo Canoes on the Lee Navigation
Go to Planet Patrol for litter picks and citizen science water watch. This amazing organisation is run by Paddle UK 2023 inspirational person of the year, Lizzie Carr
Surfers Against Sewage are still working on the Million Mile Beach Clean.
While the 2 Minute Clean suggest little and often for litter picks, see
2024 clean up dates – invasive weeds
Follow this facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/clearaccessclearwaters/