To coincide with this year’s Earth Day, staff from Chelsea Football Club and Chelsea Foundation joined with other participants for a visit with an important purpose to a nearby stretch of the River Thames.

The group delivered a beach clean down by the waterside, when the river’s tide was out, with the event highlighting the importance of tackling plastic pollution and inspiring future generations to take environmental action. It was part of the designated day of action which serves as a platform for environmental advocacy, education and action.

Close by Hammersmith Bridge, a couple of miles away from Stamford Bridge, the waste gathered on the day included plastic bottles, Christmas decoration remnants, bank and travel cards, hats, glasses, lighters, vapes, clothing – and the stray football. A significant amount of microplastic was also collected.

Chris Goodwin, environmental social governance manager for Chelsea FC, spoke about the local beach clean and the wider aims.

'As a club, we are committed to actively engaging with our local community to promote environmental stewardship and raise awareness of the practical steps we can all take to protect our natural ecosystems. Our recent beach clean near Hammersmith Bridge not only made a tangible impact by removing waste from the river and surrounding areas but also served as a valuable opportunity to educate participants on the pressing issue of plastic pollution.

'We’re sincerely grateful for the support from the local council and school, whose collaboration was instrumental in making the event a success.' 

As well as the Chelsea contingent, those participants included representatives from Hammersmith and Fulham Council, along with local students from St. Barnabas and St. Philip’s Primary School’s Eco Council.

The group was led on the day by Washed Up Cards, a social enterprise that coordinates beach cleans and creates homemade greetings cards using plastic collected from beaches and rivers in the UK, and it collected 13 bags of rubbish totalling approximately 100kg.

Flora Blathwayt, founder of Washed Up Cards, said: 'It was wonderful to see all the children have so much fun on the Thames litter pick. Beach cleaning is a great way of helping connect with nature and understand the importance that we can all do something to look after where we live and tackle the plastic crisis with hope. I’m delighted to have led this event with Chelsea FC and Chelsea Foundation.'