https://thecanoerivercleaner.co.uk/, https://ko-fi.com/thecanoerivercleaner

The Canoe River Cleaner, Great Grimsby (2026)

08/02/2026

Feeling overwhelmed?

Please watch and SHARE

We all feel slightly compromised at times, and whilst professional help is sometimes required, there’s this beautiful thing called nature that offers a myriad of benefits.

Please follow 'All Things Good And Nice C.I.C' on Facebook for more information on our wellbeing activities 😊

08/02/2026

What a reward !

Because of this damn heel, and because I didn’t think there was any chance of the sun making an appearance, I didn’t mind leaving Eve to take the sunrise walking group down to the yacht club beach while I stayed behind to litterpick the car park.

After weeks of rain and endless cloud, I had almost given up hope of anything different.

Then nature did what it does best. A sudden break in the cloud appeared, allowing the sun to work its magic and it made clearing up after those with absent minds completely worthwhile.

I hope some of you got to see it this morning 🌞

P.S. Please check the fantastic post from my litterpicking husband Zac who was coincidentally in a similar area today.
👉👉 PickWalks 👈🏻👈🏻

Keep Britain Tidy
North East Lincolnshire Council

07/02/2026

Thank you all so much 🥲

Last night was my 50th birthday bash at Yardbirds and I was a tad nervous.
Not because I was performing, but because I’d convinced the gaffer to let me have the Friday night on the basis that it would make it busy 😟

Thankfully, every Tom, Dick and Harry showed up and we had a truly wonderful night 💚

At the risk of churning up old ground, since emerging from the pandemic feeling a bit lost and fragmented, I’ve been keen to join dots, bring people together and help create a collective of bloomin’ good people. It meant a lot that so many showed up last night 🙂

We had some Freshney Comrades, people from my nature and wellbeing sessions, some Monday walk regulars, and loads of family and friends who fancied a night out at a great venue with like minded folk.

All the bands played their socks off and, while I’ve done a tonne of gigs in Not Tonight And The Headaches before, this one will stick with me!

A big thank you to those who threw me a few groats towards the cost of the evening. I ended up with £12 more than required, which will be dropped into the RNLI bin tomorrow when I’m passing.

And a massive thanks to Robo from Yards for the birthday gift of a ticket to see Moving Pictures in June (a Rush tribute).

I hope you enjoy the photos.

See you at my 60th 😅

Yardbirds Rock
Elson
The Silver Circle Band
Brad Arliss - Music

07/02/2026

My 50th bash.

Thanks to Hayley and Uncle Jon for the footage.

Photos and musings to follow in due course

Yardbirds Rock
Elson
Brad Arliss - Music
The Silver Circle Band

06/02/2026

Strand Street Scallywags (with Kofi Smiles) 😊

We’re going to be on the radio all week 🙌

This visit marked school number eight — the wonderful (and very cool… it’s got a bloomin playground on the roof!) Strand Primary Academy.

This session is part of my collaborative work with NELC, which allows me to yarp on (happily) about the importance of looking after our environment, with a strong emphasis on rivers and why they matter so much.

We were joined by the endlessly positive and energetic Kofi Smiles from BBC Radio Humberside, who listened patiently as I prattled on about my work. He showed good listening and retention skills and ended up on the winning quiz team as a result 🤣

While the quiz is very much a bit of fun, it’s also a great way to help children understand why rivers are so important. Very few realise that most ocean waste actually arrives there via our inland waterways. A high percentage of the items you’ll find on a beach clean have travelled there through rivers, so tackling the problem at the source is absolutely vital.

The class was dismissed… but not before I managed to dupe Mrs Haxby, Luke, and Kofi into sniffing otter poo 🤣

Our planned outdoor litterpick was marred by the weather, so we opted for a safer approach... choosing a small part of the environment and making a massive difference. This ended up being the hedgerow around the school, and we’re hoping the children will soon hear the churp of house sparrows returning 🐦

Despite the wind and rain, the kids never grumbled once. They got properly stuck in and showed a real understanding of why keeping our environment clean matters.

You’ll be able to hear our ramblings all week on the Kofi Smiles Breakfast Show, so keep those ears open.

Thanks to all involved, and thanks for showing us that incredible rooftop space !

North East Lincolnshire Council
BBC Humberside
BBC News

05/02/2026

A children’s playground…ON A ROOF 😮

Halfway through my visit to Strand Street School today, it suddenly clicked "hang on… isn’t this the school with the rooftop playground"?

It’s one of those things that’s popped up in conversation over the years, almost like a bit of local legend. Built in the early 20th century, Strand Street School had limited outdoor space, so the solution was brilliantly practical for its time. Put the playground on the roof. For generations of pupils, playtime came with sky views and fresh air high above the street below.

Today, I finally got the chance to have a little peekaboo 👀

After a good chinwag with one of the teachers, I learned that the roof is no longer used as a conventional playground. Instead, it’s being reimagined as a wellbeing space with plans for planting vegetables, creating a garden, and encouraging a bit of rooftop biodiversity. Honestly, what a bloomin’ lovely way to give the space a new lease of life.

So yes, the legendary Strand Street School rooftop playground really is a thing.

Did you go to Strand Street School, or do you remember playing up there?

05/02/2026

Oooohhh, we love a cleanup 🥰

Fortunately, despite this ere pesky heel playing havoc with some activities, I've got loads of brilliant people who I can call upon, and this time me, Kev and Zac gave Horizon a tickle ahead of the grand opening !

Considering the amount of building work involved, there has been very little debris entering our river, but invariably, some had made it’s way into the reed beds and surrounding bank vegetation.

Whilst not the usual river clearance due to the location, we were able to get things sorted fairly easily.

Zac and Kev gave downstream in the riverhead a quick once over whilst i headed upstream to sort some errant debris.

Fortunately there is no 'I' in team

Horizons grand opening is Saturday 14th Feb.

Horizon Youth Zone
PickWalks
Freshney Comrades

04/02/2026

Sshh 🤫

Dont tell Earl St bridge, but this downstream gem is fast becoming my favourite.

Afternoon river clean with Zac PickWalks and King Kev from the Freshney Comrades

The nitty gritty of our shenanigans will be posted soon. You lucky people 🤣

Canal & River Trust
Paddle UK

04/02/2026

Monday caught me peekabooing 👀

Now, I’m not going to yarp on about the ins and outs of Horizon, as we should all know what they’re about by now, but I would like to share my thoughts and a few snaps 📷

I’ve paddled past this beautiful building numerous times since its redevelopment, and more recently I’ve even had a few staff members wave at me as I’ve gone past. So, I was eager to take advantage of Paul McCready’s invite to have a snoop about inside.

Firstly, I would say they have handpicked their team very well indeed. After listening to Paul talk about his background in youth work and education, it’s clear that they've got the best people for the job.

Briefly, the inside is just as good as the outside. The attention to detail is incredible, and every single room has been created with passion and care.

There’s also heaps to do apart from the climbing wall, which I suspect will be used very heavily. It’s not simply about sport either, as there’s a strong focus on creativity, sustainability, and teaching kids how to make a living from what they love doing.
Imagine writing and recording a song in the music room, then designing an album cover and making a record. Well, you can at Horizon!

In short, there’s something for everyone!

Paul mentioned that two classes had their first outing last week, and they were practically at full capacity, with the activities enjoyed by all who attended.

The best thing for me (I won’t be boxing or climbing 🤣) were the windows and the view of the water, embracing our heritage and facing it, just as it should.

Im excited to see how brilliant this will be.

Here’s a slack handful of random photo's

Horizon Youth Zone

04/02/2026

It's just not me. Or at least it wasn't.......

I went to the Grimsby Central Library consultation/select committee the other evening very much on the fence.

I’m not really a reader. I’m not especially into history or building knowledge through books. It’s a bit like the Freshney Place development for me, I don’t have a strong opinion because it’s not something that naturally grabs my interest either way. I’m happiest out on a canoe or stuck in a wood somewhere. I’m a simple chap 🤣

That said, I went to the Town Hall to listen....and because my friend Neil dragged me there!

What I heard were people who aren’t just passionate about libraries, but really passionate about Grimsby, its future, and the people who live here. People who have actually spoken to residents, read consultation reports, and looked at what works in towns across the UK.

One thing came through quite loudly was, if we’re going to do this, it has to be done properly.

Modern libraries can’t just be rows of books anymore, but equally, people are reading books more than ever, and just like me, millions of others are once again, spending time with vinyl records rather than Spotify. There's definitely a yearning for getting back to basics.
The vision being talked about appears to be a proper cultural hub where book lending remains central, but supported by things that bring people through the door, a ground floor cafe, exhibitions, meeting spaces, children’s activities, educational events, festivals, and spaces people actually want to spend time in.

This didn't seem like some radical reinvention either. Much of this already existed in the building before. Our town centre is crying out for places like this again, if they are done properly.

What really nudged and altered my perspective was realising this isn’t about downgrading libraries, it’s about saving them by making them relevant, welcoming, and alive again, while still keeping books and reading at their heart.

To say I was inspired would be an understatement, and I genuinely didn't expect that to happen.

This could be, and damn well should be something amazing for Grimsby.

P.S. One thing that has been mentioned is 'where are all the books'.
Once you see ALL the images, it will make sense. That said, this was apparently an incredible starter for ten done for free by architect Mark Hodson.

Images courtesy of M. Hodson.

03/02/2026

Join me for 'Time Out Tuesday's'

I'm sure we can all agree that it's important to take some time out, step outside of our heads for a while and be around good people.

Well, each week at 10am I will be at Centre4 to do exactly that.

Sometimes we litterpick in the community, sometimes we go in search of wonderful blue and green spaces in the town to grab a bit of nature, but we absolutely ALWAYS, start with a coffee and a chinwag 😊

There is no need to book and attendance is free, courtesy of Centre4

Today we had a quiz, loads of coffee, and a small but very sweet litterpick

Come join us. It's a laugh.

02/02/2026

I've FINALLY sold one 🤣

I’ve just put my first “Jim Says…” shirts out into the world, and I’m genuinely hopeful that people recognise what I’m trying to do here.

This one says:

“James says: pick your s**t up.”

Yes, it’s blunt.
Yes, it might divide people.
But it really shouldn’t.

This shirt came from a collaboration between me and my late friend, the brilliant Max Maxwell. I asked him to design something bold, not something that attacks people, but something that POINTS SQUARELY AT THE ACTUAL PROBLEM… the rubbish on the ground. This is where we landed.

This isn’t about name calling.
It’s about calling litter what it is.

We all know strong language grabs attention. Humour lowers defences. And sometimes, if you want to reach the people who don’t already care, you have to speak in a way that cuts through the noise.

If polite signs worked on everyone, we wouldn’t be knee deep in cans and crisp packets. And while aggressive “£££ FINE” signs don’t land well either, humour with a bit of bite just might.

In the litter picking world there’s the phrase 'Don’t be a tosser'. I get it, and I appreciate the wordplay, but it labels the person. I don’t think shame changes behaviour.

This shirt isn’t preaching to the converted.
It’s a nudge. A pause, and a moment of reflection.
Wrapped in a bit of Frankie-style rebellion.

Positivity matters, but sometimes positivity needs teeth

Oh, and they’re 100% organic combed cotton, properly made, not shoddy tat.

PING ME A MESSAGE IF YOU WANT ONE

Thanks for getting what I’m trying to do. 💚

The Canoe River Cleaner

08/02/2026

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