Volunteers to target canal in annual big clean-up

Organisers expect to recover more than 20 tonnes of waste

An army of volunteers will be gathering to remove debris from a canal as part of an annual tidy.

The Big Canal Clean Up, organised by the Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) Society, will be targeting the waterway in Wolverhampton on 16 and 17 March.

Participants will spend two days grappling with debris from the water as well as clearing rubbish from towpaths.

Organisers select a different section of the network every year and said they expected to recover more than 20 tonnes of waste.

A spokesperson for the BCN Society said: “It’s an opportunity for everyone to get involved, come along and get dirty.

“Sadly, some people still treat their local waterway as a tip and we recover a huge variety of materials including bikes, shopping trolleys, wheelbarrows, safes, tyres, street furniture, Harris fencing, plastics, and general household rubbish.”

The event is held each year at the start of the boating season

The event begins at the start of the boating season every year and also involves the Canal and River Trust, the Inland Waterways Association and the Friends of Tipton Cut, along with local residents and boaters.

A spokesperson for the Canal and River Trust said they were hoping that this year’s event would be the biggest ever and urged people to get involved.

“The canals in Wolverhampton are used by many, not just for boating but for walking, fishing, cycling and even canoeing,” they added.

“With these beautiful waterways in their backyard, I'm sure that many local people would give the helping hand that is needed to keep this historic waterway as the haven it is, to be enjoyed by one and all."