Volunteers join river clean up

Over 150 volunteers turned up last Saturday, 14 May for a Spring River Clean Up event organised by Love Your Chelmsford. The event aimed to reduce pollution and protect local wildlife habitat and waterways.

Volunteers gathered at Baddow Road Car Park and litter picked around River Chelmer and River Can, which covered areas surrounding the Essex Records Office, the town centre, all the way to Riverside Leisure Centre.

The volunteers were joined by Chelmsford Scuba Diving Club, Malborough House Civil Engineers, Chelmsford Mildmay Rotary and Chelmsford Sea Cadets. The divers managed to retrieve multiple shopping trolleys, bicycles and street cones from the riverbed, as well as cans, plastics and glass, which were separated for recycling. Volunteers were then thanked for their generous efforts with free refreshments at the Driink Coffee Club located on Baddow Road.  

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“It’s important to understand that if anything leaves our hand and falls to the ground, or enters the water, it becomes our collective responsibility to clear it – not just to keep things “neat and tidy”, but to protect the natural environment as well. I’d like to thank all our volunteers today for gifting us your time, and to the Love Your Chelmsford and Street Care teams for supporting everyone involved.”

Cllr Rose Moore, Cabinet Member for Greener and Safer Chelmsford

You can find out how to learn more and get involved in future Love Your Chelmsford activities.