Some of the world’s biggest paddlers are leading Great Britain’s 2025 Big Paddle Cleanup initiative aimed at protecting the waterways from rubbish.
The 2025 edition of the project from Paddle UK, which ends on June 8, could not have been scheduled better as people all around are celebrating World Environment Day today.
At the Nottingham Canal, Paralympic champions Charlotte Henshaw and Emma Wiggs and silver medallist Jack Eyers all helped in the cleanup.
A total of 20 sacks of rubbish were collected from the canal and towpaths with team members Jonathan Young and Stuart Wood also chipping in.
At the Lee Valley White Water Centre in London, Canoe Slalom stars Kimberley Woods, Adam Burgess, and Mallory Franklin showed their support along with volunteers.
Ten sacks of rubbish, a bicycle, bits of fibreglass, an animal skull and a shoulder blade were collected at the training base.
Cleanups are taking place all over Great Britain with paddle clubs doing their part.
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The University of Kent Paddle Club, Rivington Paddlesport Club, Paddle Lincs, Leicester Outdoors Pursuits Centre and many others in the community stepped in 2025.
“Every year [as part of the Big Paddle Cleanup] we try and encourage people to look after these beautiful places,” Wiggs told Paddle UK.
“We’re lucky to paddle on the [Holme Pierrepont lake], it’s nice and tidy, but every time we go to a river or canal it’s shocking to see litter and pollution. We want to enjoy the waterways.
“Nowadays there’s a lot more plastic around. It’s definitely getting worse so that’s why initiatives like the Big Paddle Cleanup are so important.”
Burgess said: “It's been nice to get out on the water and do something different, give a little bit back to the waterways.
“It's only right that we're here to give something back. All volunteers taking part in the [Big Paddle Cleanup] are doing great work to clean up our waterways.”
A total of 1,888 sacks were filled with rubbish last year, including 7,809 plastic bottles, 2,374 glass bottles, 4,735 cans and 10,613 plastic food wrappers, among other unusual items.
Click here for more information on the Big Paddle Cleanup
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