The All Aboard canal boat recently welcomed the Litterbug litter picking group on their mission to clean up Edinburgh’s Union Canal.
Since its launch in 2021, the All Aboard canal boat has made many trips along the Union Canal, providing a space for charities, community groups, and those in need to relax and see a hidden side of Edinburgh. While the canal is maintained regularly by the council, a lot of hard work, grit, and determination that goes into keeping the canal clean is thanks to groups like the Litterbug litter picking group.
Formed in 2022, Litterbug are a self-proclaimed ragtag group of individuals whose love for keeping our environment clean goes above the call of duty. Their love has united a researcher, church members, environmentalists, and retirees looking to give back to their community, together they have the power to make a difference to this gem located in the heart of the city.
One crisp packet at a time
Looking after the canal is hard work. It can be physically demanding and requires coordination and communication to ensure our helmspeople can position the boat as appropriate. A typical session for Litterbug can last anywhere from 2 to 3 hours as they survey the water looking for prime opportunities for canal clean up. No job is too big for this team, whether it be clearing overhanging branches, dislodged logs, or floating rubbish.
While the Litterbug litter picking group may have started off as a mission to care for the canal, it has grown to be bigger than this. Dawn, the head of Litterbug, goes out of her way to unify this new group, making introductions and baking delicious treats that go down a treat with members. They are a tight-knit community group that looks forward to their regular meet-ups, sharing stories from their lives and learning more about each other.
The group has been a great benefit to the mental health of those involved, giving them a chance to have regular social interactions and a chance to get outside and take in the sights and sounds of the city. One group member who recently moved to the UK for the first time has had the pleasure of learning all about Scotland from the experienced group members who’ve lived through many decades of Scottish history.
A community space for all
After 2 years of navigating the Union Canal, All Aboard has welcomed a diverse range of charities and community groups who’ve had excellent experiences with our wonderful crew of volunteers. Without them we would not be able to host our regular trips down the canal and open this space to the community.
When times are tough and friends can be hard to find we are incredibly grateful the All Aboard canal boat can host welcoming and caring groups like the Litterbug litter picking group. We hope in the near future we can experience another great litter-picking trip with them, cleaning up the canal one bottle at a time.
More than 2 million pieces of litter are dropped in UK every day, causing harm to the environment. Maintaining the health of the planet is something everyone can get involved in and we’re glad that the All Aboard canal boat can play its part in this mission.
If you’d like to organise a trip on the All Aboard canal boat for your community group or charity please reach out to us.