For the second year running, Rivers Trusts will be mobilising their army of #LitterHeroes to reduce the impact of litter on the habitats and wildlife of our rivers and seas.

It is estimated that a shocking 80% of marine litter is said to come from land, and rivers are a significant pathway for it to get there.

Last Spring, despite the Beast from the East cancelling or postponing many events, Rivers Trusts managed to assemble 126 volunteers across the country get involved in river cleanups and collected more than 280 bin bags of rubbish, which included items such as a bath, a horse coat and 3 carpets.

Taking place this Spring from 22^nd March – 23^rd April 2019, The Rivers Trust and its members will be supporting Keep Britain Tidy to call on their #LitterHeroes to help clean-up not only our villages, towns and cities but also our rivers and beaches.

Alistair Maltby, Operations Director for The Rivers Trust, said: “People are really taking the war on plastic to their hearts, so this year we are hoping for even more volunteers taking part in the Great British Spring Clean”.

“Litter is the most visual indication of the pollution of our rivers, and how this is getting to the sea. We are deeply concerned about the long-term impact of plastic on wildlife and on our own health. We really need people to help us take action to prevent litter from getting into rivers, and to help in the fight to clean up our environment.”

Ahead of the Great British Spring Clean The Rivers Trust and the local Rivers Trust for central London, Thames 21, will be training another 12 waterway clean-up leaders so we can continue the fight to improve our rivers across the country.

The Great British Spring Clean is hoping to build on last year’s success of more than 370,000 people take to the streets, parks, rivers and beaches, to clean them up.

To find out more or to register a volunteering event, go to http://www.keepbritaintidy.org/get-involved/support-our-campaigns/great-british-spring-clean