Wild deer surprises volunteers at Big Paddle Cleanup event

Royal Sutton Coldfield Canoe Club hosted the event, on Saturday 7 June, with the support of Decathlon – a Paddle UK commercial partner.

About 60 people, including a team from Decathlon, joined the cleanup on the canal near Brownhills Canoe Centre.

Paddlers were excited when they saw a female roe deer chewing grass on the canal side unperturbed by the activity of the water.

Chantelle Grundy, Access and Environment Lead at Paddle UK, said:

“We were thanked for our efforts by local people and had the pleasure of the company of a deer, which really highlighted why protecting our environment is so important.”

Decathlon has been fully behind the great work paddlers do in helping keep our waterways free of rubbish.

They supported the cleanup by providing food and refreshments, and gifts for volunteers. A new paddleboard was also donated to the club.

Becky Lillico, Environmental Impact and Waste & Resource Lead, Decathlon UK, said:

“It was incredibly exciting to join forces with the Royal Sutton Coldfield Canoe Club for this pivotal Paddle UK Flagship Event.

“Witnessing local communities come together, fueled by their passion for the water, and actively improving the cleanliness of their local environment is truly inspiring.

“Decathlon’s mission is to make sport safe and accessible for everyone, and this event is a perfect example of that commitment in action!”

About 10 huge sacks full of junk were collected along with four shopping trolleys and a pile of wood.

Royal Sutton Coldfield Canoe Club, which was established in 1990, said it was delighted to have been the hosts for this year's Big Paddle Cleanup flagship event.

“Keeping the canal litter-free is essential not only for paddlers but also for the diverse wildlife that calls it home,” said a club spokesperson.

“We are the visitors here, and it's our responsibility to respect and protect this shared space.”

Thousands of volunteers have been taking part in the Big Paddle Cleanup to clear our blue spaces of junk.

Find out more about Paddle UK's Big Paddle Cleanup >>