As part of the Big Belper River Clean volunteers are needed to help clean the Milford section west bank of the River Derwent at 1.15pm on 28th March 2020.
In combination with Paddle Peak (the canoeing group), Belper Town Council and Amber Valley Borough Council, the plan is to meet at 1.15pm on the lane by the sewage plant (over the Goods Road footbridge), then leave from the Chevin side of the footbridge at 1.30pm and sweep down the west bank of the River Derwent into Milford, ending in the fields by Chevin Road and Jacksons Lane.
More details in Paddle Peak’s poster below.
In addition a work party is being organised the following day at 10am on Sunday 29th March, at the herb planters at the far south of Hopping Mill Meadow on the riverside footpath near the A6. This is to collect all the dead wood and branches on Hopping Mill Meadow and put them at various places on the meadow to provide wildlife “hotels”. Any wheelbarrows, bags, neighbours, friends and children welcome.
The Big Belper River Clean
People of Belper and Surrounds – your valley needs you!
After all the high water events of the last few months, there has been a large amount of rubbish and plastic left all the way down the Derwent valley. Much of it can be seen if you walk along the paths by the river. It is possibly on a scale never seen before. Paddle Peak are a group of local river users and we have come together with Belper Town Council and Amber Valley Borough Council to tackle it. Combining our resources, we decided we needed a community litter pick.
Saturday 28th March 10.30am onwards
Put the date in your diary – we’re bringing the community together to clear up the rubbish along the valley between Belper Mills and Milford. There have already been some local litter picks but a group has come together in order to tackle the scale of the problem. If you can give any time or support it would be greatly appreciated. The day will be split into two sections.
Morning – Meet at Bridge Foot, 10.30am. We’ll head down the West Bank to finish at the Sewage plant for around 1.00pm
Afternoon – Meet 1.15pm on the lane by the sewage plant (over the Goods Road footbridge). We’ll leave from the Chevin side of the footbridge at 1.30pm and sweep down the west bank into Milford, ending in the fields by Chevin Road and Jacksons Lane.
We have split the day into two sections so people can more easily give a little time and get back to their start point more easily, but if you’d like to do the full day you’re clearly welcome, bring a sandwich and a friend! Please share this far and wide – let’s get our amazing valley back to the state we can enjoy it! If you feel you can spare some time and are able, please drop us a message so we have an idea of volunteer numbers (and in case of a change of plans due to weather) to bigbelperriverclean@gmail.com
Some safety matters:-
- The fields and paths are likely to still be muddy, and it’s still only March so please wear suitable warm clothing and footwear – you’re likely to get wet and muddy!
- The Councils will be able to provide some litter pickers and bags, but we’d advise bringing some gloves, hand wash – a flask or water bottle would be a good idea!
- There’s no age limit – we want to involve the whole community, but children should be supervised by responsible adults. We all take part at our own risk.
- If you come across any sharp or dangerous litter, there will be members of the team in Hi-Vis – please make them aware of it – don’t try to pick it up!
- There will be a specialist River Clean Team on the river from Paddle Peak working alongside. They are all experienced river users and have been cleaning the river together for the past year. Please do not climb along the river banks to get to rubbish – if it’s on the banks the Paddle Peak team will get it. The River banks are very slippery, overgrown and the water is cold and dangerous.
