Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
“The Clean Up was born from a real disengagement from the local community and paddlers.” – Aaron Kendall
Aaron Kendall founded Dee Valley Clean Up in 2017 with a singular vision: unite the paddling and non-paddling communities of Llangollen in Denbighshire, Wales, in hopes of protecting public access to the River Dee.
They started small—a raft, some friends. Today, with regular rubbish clean-ups on the Dee and surrounding hills that draw hundreds of paddlers, and partnerships with organisations like Trash Free Trails, Aaron and his team are proving that giving back to our community and wild places is easier than we think.
As long as you're trying, something will happen. And even if it isn't the exact thing you're doing, the inspiration might be the thing that makes a difference.’ Rob Hirst, Dee Valley Clean Up
“The Clean Up was born from a real disengagement from the local community and paddlers.” – Aaron Kendall
Aaron Kendall founded Dee Valley Clean Up in 2017 with a singular vision: unite the paddling and non-paddling communities of Llangollen in Denbighshire, Wales, in hopes of protecting public access to the River Dee.
They started small—a raft, some friends. Today, with regular rubbish clean-ups on the Dee and surrounding hills that draw hundreds of paddlers, and partnerships with organisations like Trash Free Trails, Aaron and his team are proving that giving back to our community and wild places is easier than we think.
As long as you're trying, something will happen. And even if it isn't the exact thing you're doing, the inspiration might be the thing that makes a difference.’ Rob Hirst, Dee Valley Clean Up
