On Sunday 28 April, the Shiplake Outloars, local volunteers and members of the Shiplake College community took part in a river clean-up between Sonning and Shiplake.
More than 55 volunteers took part in the clean-up. They were both on foot and split between 17 boats, collecting over 20 black sacks full of litter. Their journey started at The French Horn, owned and managed by Old Viking Michael Emanuel. From there, they travelled upstream, collecting rubbish all the way.
Those in canoes were able to pick smaller pieces out of the reeds, roots and banks, while the College boats took to the Shiplake lock to clear that area. This year the newly formed Marlow Canoe Hire donated seven canoes to the army of volunteers, with more from the Shiplake College fleet and some private boats.
The organisers were grateful to the local volunteers, the Outloars, and extra support from Shiplake College’s Outreach Department who organised more pupils and staff to be involved this year, along with the use of their river front again.
Organiser, Guy Fisher said:
“Thank you to everyone who came along again and for the first time this year to help. It really does make a huge difference to the look of the river and to the animals sharing one of the most beautiful stretches on the Thames”.
Guy went further to say, “I am concerned that with the increasing amounts of permanent house boats on the stretch that sewage and rubbish is disposed of correctly, knowing that this is a problem on other parts of the river”.
