Nomadic boat dwellers host Tottenham clean-up event

A new group of litter pickers is determined to keep towpaths and neighbourhoods along the River Lee Navigation clean and tidy

The Nomadic Litterpickers Group in Tottenham (credit National Bargee Travellers Association) — The Nomadic Litterpickers Group with rubbish they collected in Tottenham (credit National Bargee Travellers Association)

A community of boat dwellers is taking action to keep Tottenham’s waterways and neighbourhoods clean.

On Saturday (18th) the Nomadic Litterpickers group organised their first-ever litter-picking event together, starting along the towpath from Tottenham Lock.

“As boat dwellers, we have a deep connection to the waterways and surrounding areas,” said Alain Gough-Olaya, a spokesperson for the group. “We wanted to do our part to keep these spaces beautiful and accessible for everyone to enjoy.”

During the litter-picking event, the Nomadic Litterpickers collected a significant amount of rubbish, including plastic bottles, cans, and other discarded items from the river, towpath, and from inside bushes. They had a successful day cleaning up the area of rubbish, filling 30 rubbish bags in all.

“It was amazing to see the community come together and work towards a common goal,” said Alain. “Not only did we make a visible difference in the cleanliness of the area, but we also had the opportunity to connect with our fellow boat dwellers and neighbours.”

The group plans to organise regular clean-up efforts in the areas they travel to as boat dwellers.

Marcus Trower, deputy chair of the National Bargee Travellers Association, said: “We are a nomadic community, so we travel from place to place. Instead of having one fixed home, our home encompasses the waterways and all the places we travel through and stop off at.

“Nomadic Litterpickers is another excellent example of community initiatives from the boating community, which is wonderful to witness, especially now that the Canal and River Trust is contemplating a law change that could jeopardise our travelling community. It’s another example of why the travelling boat dweller community is worth defending.”

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