THE Great Borders River Clean returns to the region this weekend, helping to clear up local rivers and natural spaces.

Covering 18 areas of the Borders, the event invites locals to join together to help remove rubbish from riverbanks and surrounding areas.

Organised by Tom Rawson, the founder of GreenTweed Eco, it will begin on Friday and will run until Sunday.

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“This weekend marks a great weekend of environmental action as communities and groups come together in support of the natural world and the global leaders working so hard to reach agreements at COP26 down the road,” said Mr Rawson.

“The Great Borders River Clean is a regional-scale event where individuals really can make a measurable, positive difference.”

On Friday (November 5) volunteers in Ancrum will meet at Ancrum Football Club at 2pm. Then on Saturday, river cleans will be taking place in: Peebles (10am at Kingsmeadow car park), Melrose (10am at the suspension bridge), Darnick (10am at Lowood Bridge car park), Chirnside (10am at Crosshill car park), Tweedbank (10am at Lowood Bridge car park), Galashiels (10am at Asda car park), and Coldstream (10am at Coldstream bridge).

On Sunday, November 7, towns taking part in the river clean include: Innerleithen (10am at Red Bull car park), Traquair (10am at Red Bull car park), Walkerburn (10am at Walkerburn bridge), Earlston (10am at the Square), Hawick (10am at the Common Haugh), Selkirk (10am at Ettrick Water bridge), and Kelso (10am at the Riverside car park).

Dates and times are yet to be confirmed for Leaderfoot, Stow and West Linton.

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Mr Rawson added: “With the support of Tweed Forum and the Fallago Environment Foundation, the Great Borders River Clean has grown into one of the country’s largest river cleans.

“The Spring 2021 Great Borders River Clean saw nearly 500 volunteers clear over 3,000kg of rubbish from Borders river systems.

“All you need to do to join in is to look at the facebook.com/greentweed.eco page to find an event near you, wrap up warm, bring bags and gloves and get stuck in.

“You really will be making a massive and highly visible positive difference.”