We’re teaming up with Marks & Spencer as part of the retailer’s second M&S Big Beach Clean-up which, for 2013, has been expanded to include 50 canal locations throughout Britain.
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. Simon Salem
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.
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.
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).
Year 5 pupils from Crick Primary School enjoy a canal day
Canal Museum springs open its doors to visitors
Celebrate World Heritage Day at Llangollen Canal World Heritage Site
2018 national boat count shows license evasion at historic low
Get snap happy and enter the Pocklington Canal photo competition
Winter facelift for Bosley 12 lock flight on Macclesfield Canal
Enfield river to become a site for artistic exchange
We're looking for volunteers to join our towpath taskforce teams