Thames River Clean Up 2018

Thames River Clean Up 2018

 

The 2018 River Clean Up Sonning to Shiplake Saw Records Tumble!

  •  45 Amazing Volunteers,  with 20 local children.  Groups helping included Shiplake College pupils and staff, Shiplake Vikings Rowing Club and the Shiplake Outloars. 
  • 18 Small Boats
  • About 30 bags of rubbish and other bulky items
  • 25 + Degrees weather

This year the River Clean Up – Sonning to Shiplake saw a record turnout of volunteers and a massive haul of rubbish from the river banks. 

With a fleet of eighteen small boats, over thirty bags of rubbish were filled and put in the EA refuse barge by Shiplake Lock. 

Joined by enthusiastic local families and individuals with a love of the river, the volunteers worked hard in the boiling hot weather. 

This year, in addition to local residents, some pupils and staff from Shiplake College helped join the effort and the College lent their lawn again for the logistics and rubbish gathering.

The 2018 River Clean Up found (apart from some of the usual un-mentionable things) a ring still in its box! 

We noticed that plastic bags have reduced significantly, so we can only assume that the new legislation is beginning to work. Hopefully the government will usher in more quickly the banning of plastic bottles and plastic food packaging (which sinks to the river bed).

Organiser, Guy Fisher said: “Thanks so much to everyone who came to help this year. I’ll definitely plan another in 2019 and I urge other river lovers to organise clean up’s along their stretch of the river.

Outloars – Gary, Lee, Doug unable to make the first weekend and Stuart Milne (the latter for a consecutive week) kindly finished off the reach the week after.

http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/river/125443/volunteers-clear-river-of-rubbish.html

https://www.henleyherald.com/2018/05/11/river-clean-up-sonning-to-shiplake-saw-records-tmble/

 

GALLERY

The River Clean Up 2017

The River Clean Up 2017

River Clean Up 2017

This year a few people in canoes and rowing boats started from Sonning and worked our way down, making it about half way down the Sonning/Shiplake stretch.

Yona cleared up the head of the main island where loads of rubbish gets trapped.

Gary and Lee did a section just up river of Shipake Lock.

Once again, plastic was the main culprit along with polystyrene.

Obviously we can only clean what we can reach and see on the banks.
God knows what is under the river poisoning the wildlife!

Thanks to all those who helped, especially Rob who came down from London.
We filled up about 2 canoes worth of rubbish this year.

Worth doing, but would be great to get more people who enjoy the river in 2018.

The Thames Row 2016

The Thames Row 2016

The Thames Row 2016

In May 2016, the majority of the men from Shiplake Outloars took part in a 4 day row from Lechlade to Gravesend.

4 Days – 146 Miles

Stuart Milne rowed the whole way and other members joined in for selected days. 

The club raised over £6,000 for the Accessible Boat Club based at Bisham Abbey.

Conditions were perfect. Warm weather and a fast flow helped the crew most of the way.

Day 1: Lechalde to Abingdon
Day 2 Abingdon to Bourne End
Day 3: Bourne End to Richmond
Day 4: Richmond to Gravesend

 

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River Clean Up 2016

River Clean Up 2016

River Clean Up 2016

Our first year doing the clean up between Sonning and Shiplake Locks saw a great turnout from the Outloars, Shiplake College Staff and some locals in their own boats and canoes donated by Henley Canoe Hire.

We started off from Shiplake College up stream for amuch needed tidy following the high flow and water over the winter.

We filled 2 canoes and a Dory full of rubbish and made it up just beyond St Patricks.

Thanks to everyone who helped on this very hot day.