Litter picking with purpose

I started litter‑picking along the Thames because I wanted to do something that actually helps my community while fundraising for my 2028 Camps International expedition to Kenya. On the trip I will be doing real conservation work; building elephant‑deterrent fences, helping with wildlife monitoring, and supporting habitat protection. I want to be a marine biologist when I am older, so getting involved in conservation now feels like the perfect warm‑up.

At first, litter‑picking was just a practical idea, but it has turned into something I genuinely enjoy. There is something really calming about heading out early with my litter picker, walking the river, and seeing the difference I can make one bag at a time. Plus, you never know what you are going to find, it is like a very muddy, very unpredictable lucky dip.

From a distance, the Lechlade stretch of the Thames looks pretty clean, but once you start looking properly, you realise how much rubbish gets left behind. I have picked up the usual bottles, cans, and wrappers, but also some completely random things – like a pair of socks hiding in the hedgerow, a single glove drifting at the water’s edge, and a pair of trousers abandoned in a layby… which honestly raises more questions than it answers. Every outing feels like a mini adventure, and every full bag feels like a win for the river.

The wildlife is the best part. When you slow down, you notice so much more; swans gliding around like they are royalty, ducks weaving through the reeds like they are late for something, and red kites doing dramatic circles overhead. On quiet mornings, the river feels almost untouched, and it really hits you why keeping it clean matters.

Litter‑picking might not sound glamorous, but it is certainly rewarding. Every piece I remove helps protect the birds, fish, and animals that live here and its great practice for the conservation work I will be doing in Kenya, and hopefully for my future as a marine biologist.