Bedford Borough Council has thanked all the volunteers – on land and on the river – who took part in the 2025 Rivercare Clean Up and said that small actions can make a big difference.
The 168 volunteers gave up their Saturday morning on 22 March to pick up litter along the embankment by St Mary’s Gardens.
Viking Kayak Club took to the River Great Ouse with 10 boats to clear litter from the river banks and the water, and the John Bunyan Boat was moored up to provide much-needed refreshments.
Altogether, the volunteers collected 153 bags of litter.
A Bedford Borough Council spokesperson told the Bedford Independent: “Rivercare is such a heartwarming and community-spirited event.
“A number of volunteers that attended the event already volunteer in their local communities, and for others, it was their first time litter picking with us.”
They said it was incredible to see so many environmentally aware people out and about to help clean up The Embankment.
“We would like to thank everyone for their support.
“The John Bunyan Boat and The Longholme Cafe have both been kind enough to provide refreshments on the day as a thank you to everyone for their hard work, with the Viking Kayak Club stepping in again to help with the river clearance.
“We would also like to thank those who do their bit to litter pick their neighbourhood when they are out and about. Small actions by community-minded residents really make a difference and we appreciate you.”
