Adam Masterson volunteered to help with Royal Canal Clean-ups, but when restrictions kept the group from meeting, Adam decided to keep the clean-up going on his own.  Read Adam’s story below:

Growing up, I would always be out in the garden with my granny and grandad doing different bits of gardening and picking fruit from our bushes and trees. They taught me about the beauty that lies in nature and how to respect the environment around us. They also taught me the importance of not wasting anything. All in all, I grew up in a very sustainable household. Thanks to my grandparents, I am aspiring to become an environmental scientist in the hopes that I can help make the world a more sustainable place for future generations by helping combat climate change.

I usually volunteer with the Royal Canal Clean-Up group picking up refuse and litter from the Ashtown Train Station as far down as the Clonsilla Train Station along the canal.  When the restrictions started, the group meet-ups were cancelled but I decided to keep going on my own. I go out on clean-ups about twice a week for a couple of hours a day.

I got started during the first of the seemingly endless amounts of lockdowns because I felt bad about sitting around the house all the time. I wanted to try and find a way to spend my time that would help keep me active but also do some good as well. I wanted to get out and do my part to help keep our ecosystems clean and healthy for all the various wildlife and to keep our beautiful country clean and green!

I love my time volunteering as being out in nature reminds me of helping my grandparents in the garden. It’s therapeutic being surrounded by nature and in the fresh air. I stick in my Earphones and just immerse myself in the experience.

One thing that I am quite shocked at, is the amount of bags of dog poo thrown into the ditches or hanging on branches. I just don’t understand the logic behind it. I mean, it would be better to leave it on the ground and let it decompose naturally rather than bagging it up into plastic and letting the plastic hang there forever.

If I could give people any advice it would be this; try and get out whenever you can to help your local communities. Even an hour a week can make a tremendous difference and you will be happy to be part of a wonderful thing. Oh, and to not throw their bags of dog poo into the ditch, either leave it there or bin it properly.

Well, that’s my story and I hope it helps others to do something to help out in their local communities- and do their part to save the planet!