Pupils from Cokethorpe School have played an active role in protecting Oxfordshire’s natural environment after taking part in a large-scale litter-picking initiative across local rivers, canals and reservoirs.
As part of Paddle UK’s national Big Paddle Clean Up, which ran from 23 May to 07 June, more than 30 pupils from Third Form through to Upper Sixth worked alongside local canoeists and kayakers to remove waste from key waterways across the region.
The group covered approximately 20km of riverside routes, collecting seven bags of rubbish from stretches of the River Thames, the River Coln, the River Windrush and Farmoor Reservoir. The effort contributed to improving both wildlife habitats and the visual appeal of some of Oxfordshire’s most visited natural sites.
A significant portion of the clean-up focused on a 2km stretch upstream and downstream from the school’s boathouse, where pupils worked along both the river and the Thames Path.
Additional teams extended their efforts further afield, including routes from Shifford Lock to Tadpole Bridge, Lechlade to the River Coln, and along the River Windrush to its confluence with the Thames, as well as areas surrounding Farmoor Reservoir.
Support from Lechlade Marina helped facilitate safe access and logistics for the operation, enabling pupils and local water sports volunteers to carry out the work effectively across multiple locations.
Timed to coincide with Volunteers’ Week and World Environment Day, the initiative also highlighted broader conservation efforts across Oxfordshire aimed at improving biodiversity and increasing public engagement with green spaces and waterways.
Tom Slader, Head of Outdoor Education at Cokethorpe, praised the pupils’ commitment, highlighting the broader value of outdoor learning:
Outdoor education not only gives pupils the chance to embrace adventure, but also to learn valuable life skills such as teamwork, leadership and environmental responsibility.
He added that the scale of participation demonstrated the positive impact young people can have when contributing to environmental projects that directly benefit their local communities.
Cokethorpe School’s wider outdoor education programme continues to encourage participation in sport, adventure and community initiatives, supporting students in developing confidence, leadership and resilience alongside academic study.
Located near Witney, the school offers a broad co-curricular programme designed to complement its academic curriculum with creative, sporting and community-based experiences.
