Canal & River Trust partners M&S in clean-up of Britain’s canals

The canal activity will see over 1,000 M&S employees heading down to their local canal bank to volunteer their time. In addition, and as part of the canal clean ups, M&S is making a financial contribution of up to £50,000 towards our work to restore, conserve, enhance and educate people about the nation’s 200 year old network of waterways.

The M&S Big Beach Clean-up, including the canal events, will take place between 22 and 28 April.  A full list of canal locations to be cleaned by M&S employee volunteers will be available within the next couple of weeks.

A real difference

Simon Salem, marketing director at the Canal & River Trust, comments: “The canal network is a national treasure and a haven for many endangered and much loved species. By supporting the new Trust and our waterways, the M&S Big Beach Clean-up recognises the value of the waterways for fish and other wildlife. By donating their time, M&S employees will help make a real difference to the canal that’s on their doorstep.”

The M&S Big Beach Clean-up is part of M&S’s Forever Fish campaign which is funded by the 5p carrier bag charge in M&S foodhalls. Since its introduction in 2008, the charge has reduced carrier bag use by 80 per cent and raised over £4 million for charity.

Unusual items

In 2012, the litter collected from M&S Big Beach Clean-up included fishing nets, ropes and bottle tops as well as more unusual items including a set of false teeth, half a sofa, a tenpin bowling ball, carpet and even a pink thong.

Customers can find out more at www.marksandspencer.com/plana and can follow the event on twitter (@marksandspencer or search #beachclean) and facebook (www.facebook.com/marksandspencer).