Rushcliffe MP, Ruth Edwards and the Mayor of Rushcliffe, Tina Combellack, teamed up with the Grantham Canal Society and other local volunteers for a litter pick along the Grantham canal.
The volunteers cleaned the towpath between Lady Bay and Gamston as part of this year’s Great British Spring Clean.
Both the Rushcliffe MP and Mayor are supporters of the Grantham Canal Society which work to maintain the historic canal that runs between Nottingham and Grantham and preserve it as both a piece of history and beautiful countryside.
The Great British Spring Clean is now in its eighth year and the campaign aims to rally communities from all over the country to get involved to pick up litter.
This year’s focus was on local ‘Litter Heroes’, providing a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the Grantham Canal Society, whose rangers work to keep the canal clear of litter all year round.
Ruth campaigns on environmental issues both in and out of Parliament.
She is a supporter of the Government’s Litter Strategy which focuses on three key themes: education and awareness; improving enforcement; and better cleaning and access to bins.
So far, the strategy has bolstered councils’ enforcement powers, such as almost doubling the maximum fixed penalty for littering, publishing guidance on the provision of litter bins, and providing nearly £1 million to help councils purchase new bins.
Ruth said: “I am really grateful to the dedicated group of volunteers who came out today and to the Grantham Canal Society for helping to organise the litter pick and working so hard to help keep the canal clean year-round. They really fit the Litter Heroes theme of this year’s Great British Spring Clean.
“The Grantham Canal is such a lovely part of Rushcliffe and is a particular hidden gem in West Bridgford. I will continue to work with the Grantham Canal Society as they campaign to enhance and restore it.
“Thank you also to Streetwise who were so helpful in lending us the equipment and disposing of the litter we collected.”
Rob from the Grantham Canal Society said:
“It was great to have so many local volunteers give up their Saturday to join us on the Great British Spring Clean litter pick and thank you to Ruth for organising it.
“The Grantham Canal is so important to people across Rushcliffe and beyond into the Vale of Belvoir and Grantham. That was clear from all the members of the public who came up to us to thank us along the route today.”
Tony Osbond General Manager at Grantham Canal Society said:
“We have teams of volunteers working along the length of the canal repairing and rebuilding the canal infrastructure both for leisure and boating activities. It is great that their work is appreciated”
Tina Combellack said: “I was bowled over by the number of people who joined us and by how much people care about the canal and the area where they live.
“What saddens me though is that a litter pick was necessary as people are not taking their litter home and an awful lot of it is blowing into the canal where it is a danger to the wildlife.”
You can find out more about the Grantham Canal Society at their website here.
If you want to start your own litter pick, you can contact Streetwise here for equipment and more information.
