Stacey Dooley visits Failsworth project for BBC series on tackling litter

Stacey Dooley TV Presenter and Andrew Holden Northern Lily CIC Outdoor Education Lead and volunteers on the canoes.

A community environmental project in Failsworth has welcomed television presenter and journalist Stacey Dooley as part of filming for a new BBC series exploring litter across the UK.

The programme featured Northern Lily CIC and its paddle sport litter pick project along the Rochdale Canal.

Northern Lily CIC has spent the past year running paddle sport litter picks in Failsworth with funding from Oldham Council, encouraging local people to take practical action to improve the local environment.

The project has involved residents aged between 12 and 65, giving participants the chance to learn paddle skills while helping remove waste from the canal and surrounding areas.

Volunteers involved in the project have collected a range of discarded items including plastic bottles, food packaging, tyres, trolleys and larger objects including mattresses and fire extinguishers.

The initiative forms part of Northern Lily's wider work supporting communities across Greater Manchester to engage with nature and biodiversity projects.

During the visit, Stacey Dooley met volunteers, spoke with participants and joined the team to learn more about how paddle based clean ups operate.

Victoria Holden said, "It’s been an incredible year of community led action on the water. Our volunteers have shown just how much difference local people can make when they’re given the tools, training and support to protect the places they love."

She added, "We’re delighted that Stacey and the BBC chose to visit Failsworth and share the story of what’s happening here."

The BBC series is expected to air later this year and will examine litter issues across the UK while highlighting projects and organisations working to improve local environments through community action.

Northern Lily said it is now looking for sponsorship support to help continue the paddle sport litter pick programme.