The Big Paddle Clean-up will return on 24 May until 8 June 2025.
We hope paddlers, volunteers, clubs and other groups will help to clean up our rivers and waterways once again.
We’d love you to remove as much junk and plastic waste as possible from the places you paddle.
Your efforts help raise more public awareness about the issues we’re facing.
In 2024, the Big Paddle Clean-up saw an incredible 3,699 volunteers take part.
During the two weeks about 7,398 hours were spent out on our precious waterways across the country, filling 1,888 sacks with rubbish.
Within those sacks, were 7,809 plastic bottles, 2,374 glass bottles, 4,735 cans and 10,613 plastic food wrappers, plus many unusual items.
Across the whole of 2024 the numbers were even higher
The Big Paddle Clean-up has a positive impact on the community. You have told us how much cleaning your waterways means to you.
Dean Jordan, from White Rose Canoe Club, said:
“The Big Paddle Clean-up helps to help to maintain our local environment and the impact we have on it.
“The mental health and wellbeing of being out with like-minded people alone is a great thing.”
Tyne SUP Boarder said:
“If you fancy looking after your local waterways in a fun way, we highly recommend [the Big Paddle Clean-up].”
The Sea Cadets of Hornchurch and Upminster said:
“[The Big Paddle Clean-up] enhanced our expedition by contributing to the local environment.
“[It gave] our cadets a deeper understanding of the importance of keeping our waterways free from pollution.”
Amy Cipriano, from the LOPC Wild Women Outdoor Club, said:
“The majority of our paddlers have become passionate about Clear Access, Clear Waters and make conscious efforts to keep our waterways clean and tidy.
“The ladies often go off by themselves and litter pick the river banks or join scheduled canoe litter picks.”
There will be more information about the availability of Big Paddle Clean-up kits in the coming months.
Olympic silver medalist Adam Burgess shows his support
