4 minute read
Litter heroes in big clean-up
from The Angler 2024
Campaign inspiring anglers and clubs to help protect our waters and countryside
There’s nothing more demoralising than turning up at your favourite fishing spot only to find it plagued by litter.
Whether its empty cans under a hedgerow, sweet wrappers caught in a tree, or plastic bottles washed up on the shoreline, it’s a stark reminder of how human negligence is impacting the environment.
But the tide on litter is turning.
Armed with gloves, pickers and an unwavering determination, anglers are heading out to their local waters to clean up litter and restore the landscapes. Through the Anglers Against Litter campaign, the Angling Trust has provided 150 angling clubs with equipment to carry out litter picks throughout the year involving at least 1,370 volunteers.
We have been inspired by the stories and photos sent to us via our hashtag #anglersagainstlitter, and we have been amazed by some of the weird and unusual items that have been found along the way! Amongst the usual suspects of shopping trolleys and plastic bottles there has also been an avocado toilet seat, a selection of Elton John cassettes and a flat screen TV.
A shining example of someone going above and beyond was six-year-old Braydon Atherton-Gartland from Wigan who attended one of our litter events. His efforts showcase the positive role young anglers can play in helping to conserve the environment.
To say thank you for his support, we attended a special assembly at his school, Marsh Green Primary, to celebrate his contribution and provide him with a certificate for his achievement. He also
Our Anglers Against Litter campaign is sponsored by Shimano and supported by The Insurance Emporium received a fishing rod and reel, generously donated by the Environment Agency from confiscated gear.
Ian Doyle, one of our Fisheries Support Officers, remarked: ‘It’s heartwarming to see young anglers like Brandon actively involved in preserving our natural habitats.”
The Anglers Against Litter campaign is very proud and fortunate to have the support of two trade partners.
Shimano have been a lead sponsor for the campaign since early 2022. Through their support, we have managed to take the campaign to the next level, supporting more clubs around the country to crackdown on litter. Recognising the success of this partnership, the Angling Trust and Shimano were honoured to receive the ‘Best in Business’ 2023 award from Keep Britain Tidy in recognition of the campaign. This showcases the collective efforts and national contributions that is being taken by anglers to tackle litter, of which we hope to continue to build into the year ahead.
We are also pleased that The Insurance Emporium, a leading provider of specialist insurance services, joined in 2024 as a supporting sponsor of the campaign. Through this partnership, we have been able to further strengthen our support for clubs to take action to remove litter and position anglers as environmental stewards from source to sea.
Litter picking events can help bring angling club members together, to share stories and do something positive to protect fishing and the environment.
To say thank-you for these efforts, we have worked with Shimano to design exclusive ‘Anglers Against Litter’ caps that can be given out to volunteers who go the extra mile.
One such recipient was Ron Wood, who received the first Shimano cap last year. As Ron says: “Anglers are the custodians of the rivers and streams and if we don’t look after them, who else will?”
The Angling Trust and Shimano also hosted an awards day at Partridge Lakes in Cheshire to say thankyou to some anglers for their outstanding support to the campaign. The winners enjoyed an exclusive day fishing with Shimano ambassadors Nick Speed and Shaun Cameron.
Looking forward to 2025, we hope to continue to support more clubs around the country and encourage more people to respect the environment and clean up their litter.
Our Anglers Against Litter campaign is sponsored by Shimano and supported by The Insurance Emporium
