Protecting Our Environment

Paddling and our Environment

Paddle Scotland has pledged to:

Raise awareness with paddlers of environmental issues and the responsibility for all to protect and enhance our natural environment whilst pursuing our sport
Communicate and work with our partners including the Scottish Government, NatureScot, SEPA, National Park Authorities, Keep Scotland Beautiful, Scottish Canals and local authorities to benefit our environment.
Lead proactive engagement projects and campaigns for paddlers to improve and sustain the environment, including sharing best practice

Photo By: John Doe

Paddle Scotland Inland Paddling: Guide to Good Practice

Photo By: John Doe

Paddle Scotland Sea Paddling: Guide to Good Practice

Recent Access & Environment News

Big Paddle Cleanup 2025

January 17, 2025

The Big Paddle Clean-up returns for 2025!

Eddie Palmer - Funeral Details

November 7, 2024

Paddle Scotland is hugely saddened to learn of the passing on Tuesday morning of Eddie Palmer.

This week (20-26 May) organisations across the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey, and Guernsey are working together to raise awareness of invasive non-native species, their impacts, and the simple things that everyone can do to help prevent their spread.

Seagrasses

Seagrasses are flowering plants that live along the coast in shallow sheltered areas. Unlike seaweeds, seagrasses have true roots. They have green leaves and with their roots create a dense mat holding sediments together – they look like a meadow under the sea.

Click here to find out how you can help seagrasses!

Paddle Scotland Renewable Energy Policy

Paddle Scotland responds to numerous consultation exercises for hydro electric generating proposals each year and our interest in protecting our best rivers can, and does, lead to us getting involved in discussions with hydro developers. To find out more, please click here.

Access & Environment Group

The mission of the group is to conduct Paddle Scotland’s work on Environment on behalf of the Board. This consists of raising awareness of environmental issues, working with partners to protect and improve the environment, identifying threats to the paddling environment and devising and implementing action plans to engage paddlers and the general public in taking action to look after the environment.

The group consists of:

Andrew Dorin

Emma Summers

Nancy Speirs

Grant Dolier

Alison McLachlan

Christopher Wilson

Rachel Shucksmith

Donald Macpherson

To contact the group, please email: access.environment@paddlescotland.org.uk

Where to Find PFAS-Free Outdoor Clothing and Gear

Since the 1940s, a broad class of synthetic chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAS, for short) has been added to all types of performance gear to make them breathable yet impervious to water. This coating is called DWR by the industry, short for durable water repellent. The problem is, these chemicals don’t ever break down or go away.

This article provides a handy list of companies that supply PFAS-free outdoor gear. Read more.