Bedford’s Rivercare Clean Up of 2018 took place on the morning of Saturday 21st April and was the biggest Rivercare event to date.
The 192 volunteers that attended came from right across the Borough to support the initiative and together collected over 200 bags of rubbish leaving the area spotless.
With such great support, numerous areas including the River Great Ouse, The Embankment, Longholme Island, Aspects, Russell Park, Mill Meadows, St Marys Gardens and Castle Road Area were able to be targeted.
Bedford Sub Aqua Club and Bedford Scuba Divers supported the Clean Up by taking to the river and were able to pull out several bikes, traffic cones, a bin and various other items. The Viking Kayak Club and The Environment Agency helped clear the river surface and banks, whilst community volunteers, and local rowers from Star Club and the Schools Boathouse came out in force to support with litter picking.
The event was also supported by the John Bunyan Community boat which kindly supplied refreshments on the warm sunny morning, and the Longholme Café who offered 25% off of their lunch menu for all volunteers to enjoy after the event.
Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, said: “I’d like to extend a massive thank you to our fantastic volunteers who came together on Saturday for all their hard work and support to improve the river and Embankment.”
If you are interested in our volunteer activities or would like to help look after Bedford’s Parks and open spaces please visit www.bedford.gov.uk/volunteering for more information.
