Volunteer for Southampton’s paddleboard litter clean-up
Ahead of Southampton International Boat Show (SIBS), volunteers are being asked to join a community paddleboard event to help turn the tide on plastic in our waters.
Hosted in partnership with Planet Patrol, one of the official charities that SIBS is supporting this year, the paddleboard clean-up will see both experienced and new paddlers take to the River Itchin on Sunday 5 September to help collect and record litter on the Southampton waterways.
Taking place as part of the boat show’s pledge to make the 52nd show the most sustainable and environmentally friendly yet, it also offers the perfect opportunity for first timers to give paddleboarding a go under expert guidance.
“As well as our green pledge, a key focus of this year’s show is accessibility,” says Lesley Robinson, CEO of British Marine. “We want to facilitate helping as many people as possible to try out new sports and activities, and the Planet Patrol partnership caters brilliantly to both.”
Planet Patrol founder, Lizzie Carr, says: “Our coordinated activity-based clean-ups harness the power of the local community to encourage people to look after our environment, driving action that serves to protect our planet and wildlife from the harmful effects of pollution. Our events are open to everyone regardless of their experience level and volunteers record the litter they find for analysis in the free Planet Patrol app, helping us to better understand the problem so we can hold brands accountable and tackle the issue for closed-loop solutions.”
Robinson adds: “With so many perceived barriers to trying on the water activities, community groups and initiatives such as those run by Planet Patrol are so important in helping first timers dip their toe in the water, as well as being part of a fantastic environmental initiative.”
Places on the clean-up are limited. Participants need to be aged 16 or over and must register for a free ticket. Visit Planet Patrol for full event information and details of how to sign up to take part in the community clear up.
Planet Patrol was founded in 2016 and is an award-winning, global non-profit on a mission to protect, preserve and restore nature. The organisation mobilises volunteers from around the world to join either coordinated cleans or collect litter independently.
