Waterways charity Canal & River Trust is calling on people across the area to help stop half a million pieces of plastic reaching the ocean by pledging to join its Plastics Challenge.
Photo © Canal & River Trust
In the last six months, the charity has seen a national increase of 68% in reports from the public about unsightly litter on the towpath and in its canals and rivers.
Figures show that reports had more than doubled during the month of June this year compared with the same time last year. In Wales and the South West, reports of litter have increased by 119 percent.
The increase is likely to be down to an increased public awareness of the plastics issue and the fact that in many urban areas towpath usage has dramatically increased during the coronavirus lockdown – with people staying local and discovering their local canal towpath for the first time.
In Wales and the South West, usage of the towpath has increased dramatically. Use of the Kennet & Avon Canal towpath is up by 63 per cent on figures pre the March lockdown.
The Canal & River Trust’s Plastics Challenge offers an opportunity for people to get outside and make a big difference to their local area.
If every time someone visited their local canal or river they picked up and disposed of just one piece of plastic, within a year there would be no plastic left.
Morgan Cowles, heritage and environment manager for the Canal & River Trust in Wales and the South West: “Every year 14 million pieces of plastic end up in and around our canals and rivers and these plastic bottles, food wrappers, bags and straws can be harmful for the fish, swans, ducks and birds that make the canals their home.
“By making a pledge to support our Plastics Challenge and taking part in a litter pick with your family, or on your own as part of your daily exercise, you are making a commitment to helping the local wildlife too.”
Whilst people need to carefully follow Government guidelines on social distancing and washing their hands, the Canal & River Trust is asking visitors to carry out a short litter pick while enjoying some exercise at their local canal or river.
To ensure everyone takes part in the challenge safely, it’s created a handy guide which can be downloaded from the Canal & River Trust website.
Make sure you wear gloves or use a litter picker if you have one, and take home what you collect and recycle what you can.
