Leighton Buzzard Canoe Club helps clean up Grand Union Canal during Big Paddle Cleanup 2026
Our volunteer litter pickers did a fantastic job cleaning up the Leighton Buzzard section of the Grand Union Canal.
The Big Paddle Cleanup 2026 is Paddle UK's annual national campaign, encouraging and equipping paddlers to remove plastic pollution and litter from waterways across the UK.
This year's event, which runs until 7 June, focuses on accessing hard-to-reach areas to help protect our blue spaces.
On Wednesday 27 May 2026, members of Leighton Buzzard Canoe Club took to the water in canoes and on foot to play an active part in the Big Paddle Cleanup 2026.
Our volunteer litter pickers did a fantastic job cleaning up the Leighton Buzzard section of the Grand Union Canal. As part of our annual club litter-picking event, members were delighted to support Paddle UK's nationwide campaign and help improve the local environment.
The Big Paddle Cleanup serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of keeping our waterways clean and highlights the impact that pollution can have on freshwater wildlife and the wider ecosystem.
During the event, the team collected a total of ten bags of litter from the canal and surrounding towpaths. Encouragingly, feedback from our volunteers was that there was noticeably less rubbish to collect than in previous years. While there is always more work to do, this is a positive sign and may reflect growing public awareness of the importance of protecting our waterways.