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The charity making life better by water

Deborah Meaden

You may know Deborah best as an investor in the Den. But her passion for the environment has established her as a fantastic ambassador for the Trust.

Will you pledge to support our Plastics Challenge and plan a litter pick along a towpath near you? Deborah feels strongly that we all need to join in to make a difference.

  • Read the film transcript

    Why is it so important for people to get involved in our Plastic Challenge?

    I find it a really, really satisfying thing to do to pick up plastic and take it out of the environment. So, I think it’s really, really important that people get involved in this initiative. You know, they need to get their hands on and they’ll be amazed how much they enjoy quite how satisfying it is.

    Why does plastic in the canals matter?

    So, we all understand the size of the problem of plastic in our oceans. But I think what a lot of people don’t know is that research by the Canal & River Trust has actually shown that that plastic, the majority of that plastic, starts right here in our canals. So, the work that we do in picking up plastics here has a huge effect on our oceans. Win win.

What do you like about spending time by canals and rivers?

Being in nature by water brings a sense of calm that you don't experience elsewhere. Walking along the towpath watching the ducks or catching sight of a dragonfly, you naturally unwind. I just feel the stresses of the day disappear. Even if you're in the heart of the city, a few minutes walking along a canal and you feel so much better.

Why is the work of Canal & River Trust so important?

There are huge inequalities in the amount of green/blue spaces and access to nature that people can enjoy close to home. This was thrown into sharp focus during the pandemic.

I've always felt passionately that having nature close to the places where people live, work and visit is critical for our mental and physical health. The work that the Trust does is vital to the nation's wellbeing - bringing nature into the heart of our urban centres and creating places where people want to spend time.

What are your hopes for the charity over the next 10 years?

Research tells us, and I know from my own experiences, that having easy access to nature-rich spaces make a difference to how we feel. Sadly, the poorest communities are twice as likely to live in neighbourhoods without this access.

Canals can be the answer to this. They pass through some of the most economically and socially disadvantaged communities in the UK and they can play a unique role in giving people much needed access to green and blue spaces and so improve their wellbeing.

In 10 years' time, I'd hope to see high-quality nature-rich waterways that are the focal point for even more communities - the places where friends meet, families go for a walk, where people go for some peace. I'd like kids to see frogspawn, spot butterflies and everyone, no matter where they live or the type of home they live in, to see their local canal as their 'back gardens'

Last Edited: 23 February 2024

photo of a location on the canals
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