Community comes together for River Waveney litter pick
The River Waveney Trust, Broads Authority and Beccles Bombles get ready to start a litter pick along the River Waveney at Beccles.Picture: Nick Butcher - Credit: Nick Butcher
Beer cans, plastic bottles, and even a toilet seat were just some of items recovered from the River Waveney during a volunteer river sweep in Beccles.
The River Waveney Trust, Broads Authority and Beccles Bombles get ready to start a litter pick along the River Waveney at Beccles.Picture: Nick Butcher - Credit: Nick Butcher
Beccles Bombles joined forces with the River Waveney Trust, Big Dog Ferry, Hippersons Boatyard and the Broads Authority on Tuesday – to help clean up the section of the river which runs through the town and repeatedly falls victim to littering.
The event was organised by the Bombles – a volunteer litter picking team which meets weekly to clear up litter-strewn areas around the idyllic town.
Waveney district councillor Caroline Topping, who co-founded the Bombles, was inspired to take action after watching David Attenborough’s Blue Planet.
She said: “Plastics are going into the ocean through tidal rivers like the Waveney.”
The River Waveney Trust, Broads Authority and Beccles Bombles get ready to start a litter pick along the River Waveney at Beccles.Picture: Nick Butcher - Credit: Nick Butcher
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During a recent Bombles litter pick on the river banks, Mrs Topping was struck by the amount of litter situated in the river and wanted to take action.
She said: “We could see it floating but just couldn’t get to it.”
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Around 30 people showed up on the day to take part in the clean.
Mrs Topping said: “It’s brilliant, you are always a bit nervous when you set these things up but Beccles always comes up trump.
“It’s nice to have the community spirit of all the organisations coming and working together.”
Over the course of an hour the volunteers filled “bag after bag” with beer cans, plastic bottles and fishing debris.
Lister Noble, of the River Waveney Trust, said: “The quality of the water is very important for the wildlife.
“It is used a lot for enjoyment and recreation.
“The whole thing is almost a circle. If you break one of the links there is a negative domino effect on the rest.”
Plans are currently being put together to arrange similar events in the future.
Yanny Mac, skipper of the Big Dog Ferry, said: “Once you start looking it becomes obvious how much litter there is.
“We did as well as we could but rather than an hour we need a day to do it.
“We only really scratched the service – we will definitely do this again.”
