Moo Canoes gets Londoners paddling and litter picking on the River Lee at Hackney Wick

Some of the best views of east London are from the water, and Moo Canoes has been helping Londoners find them for more than a decade. The canoe hire company, famous for its black and white cow print boats, now runs canoe, kayak and paddleboard sessions from The Milk Float barge at Sweetwater Moorings in Hackney Wick.

Moo Canoes launched in 2013 with what it called a "pedigree herd of cow-print canoes", offering an alternative way to see London's waterways. At the time, it earned a Local Knowledge Endorsement from the Port of London Authority for tours on the tidal Thames.

Today the focus is on the canals and rivers around Hackney Wick and the Olympic Park. Canoe sessions are billed as "Paddle your Own Adventure", kayaking as "Find your Flow on the Water", and paddleboard sessions are relaxed and beginner friendly. Group bookings are available too.

The company has also turned paddling into a force for good. Moo Canoes runs a free monthly community clean up on the River Lee, open to individuals, families, friends and community groups, with no paddling experience needed. Volunteers can take to the water by canoe or kayak, subject to availability, or litter pick from the towpath.

Everything is provided, from buoyancy aids and a safety briefing to litter pickers, gloves and bags. There is even a reward for the hardest workers: spend at least an hour collecting litter and fill a bag, and you can swap it for a free pint or soft drink at Barge East or The Milk Float.

Spaces on the water for the clean ups are limited, so booking ahead is recommended. Sessions ran through the summer, including one in late August, giving people a simple way to give something back to the waterways they enjoy.

Moo Canoes is part of the Skuna family, run alongside Skuna Boats, and it remains one of the easiest ways for a beginner to get afloat in the capital.

Moo Canoes is based at The Milk Float, Sweetwater Moorings, White Post Lane, E9 5EN. To book a session or join a clean up, visit moocanoes.com or email hello@moocanoes.com.