The Paddle Peak team were out again cleaning the River Derwent through Matlock Bath this week. The crew cleared from Artist Corner, down to Cromford and loaded their canoes, kayaks and paddle boards full of trash, comprising of agricultural waste, litter, sanitary waste and an awful lot of metal work which was revealed by the recent low water levels including a shopping trolley from Somerfields, who in fact left Matlock many years ago! Our river guardians cleaned up fly tipped furniture close to Masson Mills that had been dumped down the river bank including a bed and sofa!
The kids and staff from Matlock Bath Preschool and Playgroup also joined the clean up down along the riverside path from Jubilee Bridge to the Derwent Gardens.
Pete Astles’s, Paddle Peak’s founder commented “ It was really great to be joined by the local kids in Matlock Bath today. It makes all our hard work worthwhile to know the local community support what we’re doing. All the waste we remove from the river protects the environment, it’s wildlife and saves it from making it’s way downstream and ultimately out to sea..“
Sarah Stevenson from Matlock Bath Preschool & Playgroup added “We have spent the week with the kids talking about recycling and using bins for our rubbish. The children enjoyed hunting for litter and were very excited to see what the boats and paddle boards had collected from the river and couldn’t believe that a shopping trolley was in there!! “
Many thanks to all the volunteers that came out on the water. Special thanks to Matlock Bath Pre School and Playgroup for joining us. Thanks to Matlock Bath Rowing Boats for taking care of the rubbish and the Derbyshire Dales District Council Green Team for collecting it all. Thanks to Hou Canoes for our amazing fleet of river clean canoes.
Paddle Peak is a community charity who’s goals are to improve access to local outside spaces for all to enjoy. To clean and care for our environment and protect it’s wildlife. To inspire and enable local young people to try and take up paddlesports, giving them the opportunity to experience the outdoors and ultimately care and protect it. For more information check out www.paddlepeak.org.