Richard MacKenzie embarked on a litter-pick running the entire length of the Oxford Canal
Oxford Canal based liveaboard boater Richard MacKenzie took his concern about the amount of litter and plastic pollution on the waterways of Oxford city and surroundings seriously: sufficiently so that he embarked on a litter-pick running the entire length of the Oxford Canal – and is pictured being congratulated by the Lord Mayor on his arrival at the canals city terminus.
Richard, who works as a gardener and lives on narrowboat Bluebell with his family, began his 78 mile marathon at Hawkesbury Junction, accompanied by his wife Jackie on the tiller of Bluebell. A week later he ended it at Hythe Bridge, Oxford, having collected 70 sacks of rubbish including plastic bottles, cans, broken glass, dog mess and fly-tipped household rubbish from the towpath, hedges and canal.
He said “I wanted to make a difference as the Oxford Canal is my home. But I want to raise awareness too – we all have to take greater care of our environment.” He also raised money through sponsorship: “I want to thank all those who have sponsored me – we raised over £1,000 for Bridewell Gardens, an incredible local charity, which has helped me in the past and continues to support those recovering from mental illness.”
