Paralympians to help out with city canal clean-up

Organisers say fire extinguishers, a fake Christmas tree and a jewellery box are among items found since the initiative started

Two Paralympic gold medallists are set to take to the waters to help clean up rubbish from Nottingham Canal.

The Big Paddle Cleanup is a national annual campaign run by governing body Paddle UK - previously known as British Canoeing - which encourages people to do their bit to keep waterways clean.

Champion paracanoe athletes Charlotte Henshaw and Emma Wiggs will be getting involved on Nottingham Canal on 3 June.

They will join staff members from Paddle UK - based at the National Water Sports Centre at Holme Pierrepont in Nottinghamshire - for the clean-up.

Chantelle Grundy, the body's access and environment lead and organiser of the Big Paddle Cleanup, said it was "fantastic" to see the initiative grow as it approaches its fourth year.

Charlotte Henshaw (left) and Emma Wiggs competed at the Paris 2024 Paralympics

"It's quite sad when we're out paddling to see the amount of junk and plastic pollution that is often tucked away in our canals and rivers," she added.

"We're absolutely delighted that our Paralympic champions will be joining us on the water to help us protect the places that we all love to paddle.

"As paddlers it's really important to look after our blue spaces as we see the full impacts of pollution on nature.

"We want to look after them so we can enjoy them, and so we can enjoy them too."

In 2024, Paddle UK said 3,699 volunteers collected 1,888 sacks of rubbish and other junk from rivers and canals across the UK.

Within those sacks were 7,809 plastic bottles, 2,374 glass bottles, 4,735 cans and 10,613 plastic food wrappers, plus some more "unusual" items.

Dozens of volunteers were involved in different clean-up events in Nottinghamshire last year, including in Beeston, Stapleford and Burton Joyce.

Participants will take to the waters on kayaks and stand-up paddleboards