In May 2017, GetOutside Champion Lizzie Carr underwent her biggest personal challenge to date – paddleboarding across the English Channel and back in a day to collect water samples and highlight the problem with marine plastic pollution.
More than 80% of marine debris comes from inland sources, including the connected rivers and canals. This summer, you can help by taking part in a #PlasticPatrol Clean Up near you.
Join the Plastic Patrol and also try paddleboarding for free!
A series of free paddle boarding events are being held across England’s waterways and coastline this summer to encourage people to get outside and enjoying the water and to highlight the problem of plastic pollution.
The programme is being led by adventurer and environmentalist Lizzie Carr who, last year was the first person to paddle board the 400-mile length of England’s inland waterways solo and unsupported, highlighting the problem of plastic pollution through her nationwide initiative – Plastic Patrol.
The locations
The Canal & River Trust, the charity which looks after nation’s canals, is hosting the project at eight clean-up events across its canal network where people can help make a difference either from a paddleboard or the towpath.
There are six paddle boarding slots available every hour between 10:00 and 14:00. The activity is completely free, anyone can turn up and take part in the clean-up events. However to get afloat and take part in the paddle boarding, participants must be 16 years or older. There are other educational activities for young families to take part in.
If you have your own kayak, paddleboard or other (safe) water device, you are also invited to join in with the clean up.
"Litter and plastics can be damaging to wildlife, it can get stuck around boat propellers and, quite frankly is just an eyesore along our lovely waterways."
Tom Freeland from the Canal & River Trust
By Lizzie Carr
About:
GetOutside Champion Lizzie Carr, aka Lizzie Outside, is a natural born adventurer. She has dedicated herself to exploring the UK, focusing on paddle boarding adventures whilst using her journey to highlight and educate on wider environmental issues affecting our waterways.
