With sunshine, great energy and a strong sense of community spirit, the event was another huge success—bringing people together to care for the city’s much-loved waterways.

The morning began at Baddow Road car park, where volunteers were equipped with everything they needed before heading out to tackle litter along the rivers and surrounding areas.

The clean-up ran until midday and was fuelled by refreshments kindly provided by the Rapid Relief Team—a much-appreciated way to celebrate everyone’s hard work.

Organised by Chelmsford City Council’s Environmental Sustainability team as part of the Love Your Chelmsford initiative, the Big River Clean Up welcomed individuals, families, community groups and local businesses.

It was wonderful to see so many returning volunteers alongside new faces joining in for the first time.

A big thank you goes to:

• Chelmsford Scuba Diving Club
• SUPsect Paddleboarders
• Chelmsford Canoe Club
• Chelmsford Litter Wombles
• Chelmsford Mildmay Rotary Club
• Rapid Relief Team

Their enthusiasm and teamwork played a huge part in making the day such a success.

Paddleboarders and divers retrieved items from the river itself, while those on land cleared litter from the banks and nearby paths. Together, they removed an impressive amount of waste, including:

• Shopping trolleys
• Shopping baskets (including one still full of tins!)
• Traffic cones
• An office chair
• Cushions
• Roadworks barriers

Alongside these unusual finds, many bags of litter were collected, with recyclable materials separated wherever possible.

Thanks to everyone involved, Chelmsford’s rivers—the Chelmer and the Can—are now cleaner, safer and more enjoyable for both wildlife and the community.

While Chelmsford’s rivers and bridges are a valued part of our local landscape, they can present risks.

Cold water, strong currents and hidden hazards make entering the water dangerous—even during warm weather. Residents are reminded not to swim in rivers or jump from bridges.

For those looking to enjoy the waterways safely, local groups such as SUPsect Paddleboarders, Chelmsford Scuba Diving Club and Chelmsford Canoe Club offer great opportunities to get involved

Find out more