The annual River Rinse event, held on Sunday 20 September and Sunday 4 October, focused on a stretch of the River Great Ouse from Bourton Park through to Cornwall’s Meadow car park.
Divers from Stowe Sub Aqua Club retrieved a significant amount of discarded items from the riverbed. In total, approximately two skips of rubbish were pulled from the water, featuring everyday litter alongside more unusual discoveries.
Among the items recovered were shopping trolleys, traffic cones, highway signs, bicycles, scooters, and notably, an old sheep’s skull.
Concurrently, volunteers worked on dry land, conducting litter-picking in the surrounding parks to remove debris that could have entered the river.
The River Rinse, now in its 20th year, is a well-established environmental initiative aimed at maintaining the cleanliness and attractiveness of the Great Ouse.
Cllr. Robin Stuchbury, Chair of the Town Centre & Events Committee, commented on the event's importance: “The Town Centre & Events Committee worked closely with officers and Stowe Sub Aqua Club on this long-standing environmental event. We are pleased to be doing it again this year where we discover what people have invertedly added to our river by way of debris and rubbish. It’s only by this continuing maintenance a long period of time that we can both improve and maintain Our River Great Ouse. Ensuring it doesn’t deteriorate environmentally, because without this constant maintenance, unfortunately, this would be the case as no other local agency undertakes a community project, of this nature.”
The Town Council expressed gratitude towards Stowe Sub Aqua Club and all participating volunteers for their dedication and hard work.
Volunteers were treated to refreshments, including sausage rolls and cakes provided by Buckingham WI, as a reward for their efforts.
After more than two decades, the River Rinse continues to underscore the shared responsibility of maintaining the River Great Ouse and the surprises that can be found beneath its surface.
