Paddle out to purge plastic in Rochdale

Double world record holder and environmental activist, Lizzie Carr, is asking the local community to join her to support her efforts in ridding the waterway of plastic pollution in Rochdale.

Lizzie, an Ordnance Survey GetOutside champion and Geovation Challenge winner, is holding Plastic Patrol clean up events across 12 locations in the UK this summer to clean the country’s most polluted waterways. 

In May 2016 Lizzie became the first person in history to paddle board the length of England’s waterways, solo and unsupported. She completed the 400-mile journey in 22 days, plotting over 2,000 photos of plastic pollution she encountered, earning her international recognition from both media and the general public for her efforts.

A year on and ready for her next challenge, on 18 May 2017, Lizzie become the first female in history to solo stand up paddle board across the English Channel, a record breaking seven-hour long crossing highlighting bigger environmental story about plastic pollution in our oceans.

During this time Lizzie also launched Plastic Patrol, her nationwide initiative to tackle the 80% of marine debris that comes from inland sources by stopping the problem at its source – in the canals and rivers she knows so well by hosting clean up events and inviting the public to join her.

Lizzie said: “The huge response to the increasing awareness of the issue with plastic pollution has spurred me on to run more clean ups in 2018, enlisting further support from local communities. By getting involved people are able to try a new activity, meet like-minded people, and get fit but, above all, fight the global issue of plastic pollution choking our waterways."

No experience is necessary, just enthusiasm and willingness to support an important cause.

For anyone who wants to stay on land there will also be an opportunity to clean up the towpaths simultaneously – people just need to turn up.

Individuals are also welcome to bring their own canoes, kayaks or paddle boards – the more, the merrier.

Earlier this year, Plastic Patrol was selected to receive financial, technical and business support from Geovation, Ordnance Survey’s innovation initiative.

This was in response to the Geovation Challenge which invited ideas that would build greener, smarter communities.

Plastic Patrol in Rochdale, 15 July:

• 9:30am - 11:00am, Rochdale Canal, Windsor Street, Rochdale, OL11 1NA
• 11:15am - 12:45pm, Rochdale Canal, Windsor Street, Rochdale, OL11 1NA
• 1:00pm - 2:30pm, Rochdale Canal, Windsor Street, Rochdale, OL11 1NA
• 2:45pm - 4:15pm, Rochdale Canal, Windsor Street, Rochdale, OL11 1NA

All clean ups are completely free to attend and anyone who wishes to paddle board must reserve a time via the website:

www.plasticpatrol.co.uk