A big year ahead for the Clear Access, Clean Waters campaign

Paddle UK, through its Clear Access, Clean Waters campaign, continues to lead efforts to expand access and create cleaner, healthier places to enjoy.

There’s so much success to build on from 2025, and this year could prove to be significant with what we’re all trying to achieve for our inland waters. Led by Paddle UK, the Outdoors For All coalition, comprising 52 organisations, met and acted together throughout 2025.

The launch of the new All-Party Parliamentary Group for Outdoor Recreation & Access to Nature was a key event this year. Paddle UK acted alongside the Ramblers and the BMC in a shared secretariat role. Following its launch, the APPG immediately commissioned an inquiry into options for reform to expand access to nature.

Outdoors For All: Recommendations for Government on Access to Nature was published in September and identified a broad consensus to expand responsible access to more blue spaces for paddlers and other water users. The report, which gathered views from over 750 organisations and individuals, highlights that much of England’s countryside remains inaccessible.

The launch of the report in the Lords and other Westminster events (such as the Countryside Rights of Way Act drop-in session in November) increased political support for the Clear Access, Clear Waters campaign from Parliamentarians.

In December, the Government announced through its revised Environmental Improvement Plan that it would be publishing a Green Paper consultation within this Parliament, to include looking at the feasibility of extending access rights to ‘unregulated’ rivers in England. This is a significant moment in the campaign for greater access, the result of sustained hard work.

In terms of water quality, Paddle UK and the Clean Water Sports Alliance worked hard to influence the Water Special Measures Act, the Independent Water Commission and new Bathing Water Regulations. Through meetings with ministers, Defra officials and Water UK, the Alliance has pushed hard for the needs of recreational water users to be reflected in new regulations and law.

The Alliance has also been working collaboratively with environmental groups and the water sector to examine water-testing methodologies. The Clean Water Sports Alliance also won an award at the 2025 BASIS Sustainable Sport Awards, in the Partnership: Collaborations that Deliver category.

Paddle UK’s Access and Environment team play essential roles on national committees and steering groups, covering topics such as navigation, invasive species, bathing waters, and access to nature. The year has started with Paddle UK’s Head of Access and Environment appearing on the BBC’s Countryfile programme (11 January) to make the case for greater access to blue space.

Ben Seal was interviewed by presenter Tom Heap on the Cromford Canal, in Derbyshire, in December. If you missed the programme, you can catch up on the BBC’s iPlayer.

Big Paddle Cleanup – save the date

This year’s Big Paddle Cleanup will take place between 23 May and 7 June, so please get the date in your diary. It’s a significant opportunity to engage our MPs and tell them why clean waterways and access to them are so important to us all.

The Big Paddle Cleanup 2025 was another resounding success, breaking new records and once again showcasing a massive community effort. There were 4,228 volunteers, over 500 more people than in 2024, and more than 2,000 sacks were filled with rubbish. In those bags, almost 7,000 plastic bottles were collected, and in total, over 8,000 hours were spent cleaning our precious waterways.

Olympians, including Adam Burgess and Mallory Franklin, got involved in the campaign at a special event near Lee Valley. In Nottingham, the Paracanoe team, including Paralympic gold medal winners Charlotte Henshaw MBE and Emma Wiggs MBE, and silver medalist Jack Eyers, all took part in our cleanup.

There was plenty of media interest in both events, with all of the above athletes featured on BBC and ITV regional news programmes. Millions of people would have also seen Charlotte Henshaw on the BBC Breakfast sofa talking about the Big Paddle Cleanup. Decathlon supported the event for the first time and proved to be great partners.

They attended the Lee Valley cleanup, and our flagship event in Royal Sutton Coldfield, providing food and prizes for volunteers. Decathlon will again support the Big Paddle Cleanup this year.

For the latest news about the Big Paddle Cleanup, including when to apply for kits, please go to https://paddleuk.org.uk/big-paddle-cleanup/.