A Wensleydale man is taking part in a unique waterbike adventure to help clean up Britain’s waterways.
Matthew Kettlewell has signed up to take part in The Waterbike Collective, a five-month, 1000-mile relay organised by a team of outdoor ambassadors from UK-based adventure community, The YesTribe.
The inland journey around England’s rivers and canals invites a different rider each day to clean up a stretch of waterway, from the seat of a specially-made aquatic bicycle called a Schiller Bike.
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Matthew, 30, an expedition leader from Bainbridge, was out this week cleaning up a canal between Leeds and Keithley.
He said: “I am personally trying to raise awareness to our area as we don’t seem aware that our waste ends up in our waterways.
“Take a walk from Bainbridge to Worton along the river and you will see a variety of plastic waste in the river from buckets to carrier bags.
“As a Getoutside champion for ordnance Survey Expedition Leader and Adventurer, I’m trying to use my influence to help raise the awareness to this problem in our area by taking part on the waterbike.”
As the waterbike passes through major cities and through 25 counties, local clean-up initiatives and youth groups will join the project, with the aim of removing one million pieces of rubbish from our waterways, towpaths and countryside.
The project was the idea of record-breaking adventurer Dave Cornthwaite, who over the years has travelled over 20,000 miles under his own steam on a variety of different non-motorised vehicles.
“The Schiller Bike is a fun, safe way to to travel and it’s a head-turner that will inspire people to get outside and do their bit to help combat an increasing plastic pollution problem.”
The public are invited to ride a leg of the journey, organise clean-ups, nominate a school for a visit from the team and collect litter as part of their daily routine.
Find out more on www.sayyesmore.com/waterbikecollective
