GWR offers harbour day out to promote recycling

The forthcoming trips begin at either Oldfield Park, Parson Street, Stapleton Road and Shirehampton stations

Families are being invited to take part in a free day trip on Bristol's waterways to pick and create 'fish' from litter.

The project, 'Fishing for Change' is funded by a grant from Great Western Railways' Customer and Community Improvement Fund.

The day out includes train travel and a tour of the harbourside.

Four trips have have already taken place, with another four planned on 20, 21 and 22 August and then 2 September.

People can book via the Fishing for Change website.

Families can meet a guide at certain local stations and catch a train to Temple Meads. before hopping into a ferry boat for a tour of the harbourside.

The last leg involves taking the SeaCycler, a nine-seater craft made from recycled plastic bottles, one of six in the world.

Aboard the craft, children and adults engage in a litter picking challenge before returning to land to create 'litter fish'.

Jo Taylor, Co-Founder of Sustainable Hive CIC, which owns the SeaCycler litter-picking craft, said: “We’re extremely grateful for this funding from Great Western Railway, which will help us to offer free family day trips that combine fun and improving our local waterways.

“We hope our ferry and train ride home is full of smiles and a great sense of satisfaction, knowing they have helped improve the waterways and prevent waste heading out to sea.”

Besides Great Western Railway and Sustainable Hive CIC, the project is also supported by Severnside Community Rail Partnership, Crimestoppers and Bristol Community Ferry Boats.

Collected litter is formed into a colourful giant fish before being separated and sent for recycling.