April - River Cleanup Season

This is an update of progress on the project

Roots in the River

Written by:

Anna Williams

April 27, 2026

This spring our volunteers have been working incredibly hard to clean up multiple becks and rivers across Bradford and Keighley. They have cleared away a huge amount of rubbish and flytipping. So, from all us us at ART to all of those who have helped out - a great big THANK YOU!

Volunteers standing in front of large pile of litter collected from river.

Volunteers collecting rubbish along the Shipley Greenway, Bradford Beck

Volunteer clean-ups start in April

At the beginning of April, we kicked off our river clean-up season. During this time, our team of volunteers headed out to rivers and becks in and around Bradford and Keighley to remove litter, fly-tipping, and debris from the water and the surrounding banks and pathways. We run practical volunteering days throughout the year, and as the seasons change, so do the tasks we focus on. In spring, we concentrate on cleaning up waterways before the vegetation grows tall enough to hide litter, and after the cold, wet days of winter have passed. At the Aire Rivers Trust, we take great pride in our river clean-up work. Of course, we would much rather our rivers didn’t need to be cleared of litter, but given this is the world we live in, we’re proud to say this clean-up season has been a real success. Our volunteers have collected over 400 bags of rubbish and over 130 wheel-barrow’s full of fly tipping!

Trash, safety and benefits

Each clean-up brings a mix of litter and larger dumped items. We regularly remove everyday litter such as bottles, cans, food packaging and carrier bags, alongside bulkier fly-tipped waste like tyres, shopping trolleys and unwanted household items. At times, we also come across unpleasant and hazardous material, including sewage-related waste that needs careful handling and disposal. Safety always comes first. We ask volunteers to be cautious around sharp or contaminated objects. If we find needles, broken glass or other hazardous items, we deal with them using the right equipment and dispose of them in dedicated sharps or glass containers. Clearing rivers and banksides of waste and litter protects wildlife, improves water quality and helps prevent blockages that can worsen flooding during heavy rain. It also makes green spaces safer and more welcoming for everyone who walks, cycles or spends time by the water. Just as importantly, visible action shows that these places matter, helping to build local pride and encouraging others to dispose of waste responsibly.

Volunteers cleaning a river during Aire Rivers Trust's cleanup season.

Volunteers wading to collect litter from the River Worth, Keighley

Litter picking along Fagley Beck

A day in the life of a river clean-up

We usually meet on site at 10am. After a welcome and safety briefing, volunteers choose what suits them best for the day. Using equipment provided by the Aire Rivers Trust, some put on waders and work carefully in the shallow water to pull out larger items and hard-to-reach litter. Others stay on the banks with litter pickers and bags, clearing the paths and edges of the river. It is a hands-on practical day, with a friendly team spirit, and it is always satisfying to see the difference we can make in just a few hours.

Volunteer voices

Robert Hellawell, Aire Rivers Trust, says: “It is such a rewarding thing to be part of a group of likeminded people. If I looked at the rubbish on my own, I would be totally despondent, but it is surprising how much can be achieved with even a small group of determined people. At the end of the day, when you look at the piles of rubbish you have pulled out of the river, you have gone from feeling despondent to feeling triumphant, and that in itself is the reward.”

Sue Patchett says: “River clean ups with the Aire Rivers Trust are incredibly rewarding. It’s so important for the health of the river that litter and fly-tipping is removed and it also improves areas for local people. We hope that the clean ups provide an incentive for people to keep these areas clean in future”

So far this season, we have carried out clean-ups in:

Shipley along Bradford Beck
Lower Grange along Pitty Beck
Keighley along the River Worth, in multiple locations
Ravenscliffe and Fagley along Fagley Beck .

After each clean-up, we sort and record what we have collected and make sure it is taken away properly. We work closely with local councils so that rubbish bags are collected and larger dumped items (fly-tipping) can be removed as quickly as possible and disposed of responsibly.

Piles of rubbish removed from Fagley Beck by volunteers

Our final clean up of the season – a huge amount of rubbish cleared from Fagley Beck

Want to get involved? Our river clean-ups are welcoming, hands-on, and suitable for a range of abilities.

If you would like to help, you can find upcoming dates and more detail by visiting our volunteering page below:

Read about our volunteering opportunities

These clean ups have been a part of our Roots in the River Project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thank you to the National Lottery players, and a huge thank you to all of our volunteers for making this possible!

National Lottery Heritage Fund acknowledgement stamp

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The Aire Rivers Trust is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales No: 07464227 and a Registered Charity No: 1145609
Registered Office at: Bizspace, Albion Mills, Albion Road, Bradford BD10 9TQ