A canoe club is planning to help the Environment Agency clean up the River Eden, making it a safer habitat for its native fish.
Carlisle Canoe Club has volunteered to clean up the River Eden via canoes and kayaks and the Environment Agency is providing skips, gloves and rubbish bags to help them with the operation.
The Environment Agency says that the Club is planning to give a stretch of the River Eden which flows through Rickerby Park to the Sands Centre a makeover on Saturday February 25th.
The event is following on from a similar clean up excercise which was undertaken between Langwathby and Lazonby and saw over 30 volunteers collect enough rubbish from the River Eden to fill a skip.
Environment Agency Fisheries, Recreation and Biodiversity Technical Officer, Jo Ratcliffe said: "Rubbish along our rivers is not only unsightly but can also be harmful to wildlife. Many plants and animals depend on access to clean water for survival.
"In addition to improving the quality of the water and the habitat for the wildlife we hope the event will raise awareness of the potential harm that careless disposal of rubbish can cause."
The Environment Agency is responsible for maintaining and improving the quality of rivers in England and Wales. It aims to prevent or reduce the risk of water pollution wherever possible and ensure that if any pollution occurs it is cleaned up.
The volunteers are meeting behind the Sands Centre at 9.30am, where they can pick up their gloves and bags from the Environment Agency. For more details you can try called the EA Press Office on 01925 542201.