KEEP IT CLEAN! VOLUNTEERS REMOVE 26KG OF RUBBISH FROM THE RIVER KENT

On Sunday 26th October 2025, two teams of volunteers walked each side of the river Kent between Staveley and Burneside collecting rubbish from the banks of the river Kent.

Over 26kg of rubbish were collected in just one morning – including a pet blanket, foam insulation panels, items of clothing and shoes, rope, plastic feed containers, metal pipes, drinks cans, dog poo bags, crisp and sweet packets, plus lots of small pieces of polystyrene, metal and plastic.

The event was jointly organised by the Lakeland Canoe Club and the Clean River Kent Campaign (CRKC). It provided an opportunity for everyone to get involved, in a practical way, to protect the local environment, as well as to raise awareness more generally in the local community about the threats that the river faces from pollution.

Isobel Stoddart from the Clean River Kent Campaign commented:

Even though this section of the river Kent is very rural, it is amazing how many household items wash up on the banks of the river Kent. Every single piece of rubbish has the potential to cause harm to the wildlife and flora of the river. CRKC and the Lakeland Canoe Club are very grateful to all the volunteers who turned out on a rainy day to help keep our precious river clean.  We ask everyone who either lives near the river Kent or enjoys walking or running along it to take great care not to litter.