River Rescue! New campaign launched

Readers urged to help campaign to rid waters of rubbish

ANGLING Times readers are being called upon to take part in the nation’s biggest ever riverbank clean-up.

The Great River Rescue will see thousands of river users helping to clear litter from their favourite stretches.

Organised by the environmental charity Thames21, the Marine Conservation Society, the Angling Trust and the Canal & River Trust, the campaign will see volunteers taking part in hundreds of organised events, starting from the scheme’s launch on World Rivers Day, September 24.

The campaign, which runs through October, is also asking for clubs, fisheries and other groups to get involved by creating and registering their own events.

Debbie Leach, chief executive of Thames21, said: “We’re urging the public to organise their own cleanups, or take part in one organised by the campaign partners.

“Thousands of items of rubbish find their way into our streams, rivers, canals and oceans every year. Much of that litter is plastic.

“It damages wildlife, stops us enjoying our rivers and open spaces and can threaten our health by getting into the food chain.”

These sentiments were echoed by Mark Lloyd, chief executive of the Angling Trust and Fish Legal, who said: “The Trust is delighted to be part of this campaign to tackle this growing problem head on with action and education.

“Anglers see at first hand the blight of litter in our rivers and on our beaches and witness the impact on aquatic wildlife.”