Important:   Litter can be contaminated, so we have put together some information to help you handle it safely. Please click on this link to have a read through our Health and Safety Guidance before you go out litter-picking.

 

Sherburn Hill Residents Litterpick

Ravensford Farm,Hamsterley,Durham,DL13 3NH

13 Apr 2012

23:00

Time- 9.30am Meeting Location- Sherburn Hill Park Number of bags collected-8 Number of people atended- 2.

upcoming Events

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past Events

BIG SPRING CLEAN 2013

Residents urged to join the Big Spring Clean Published March 08, 2013 Residents, community groups and schools are being urged to sign up for this year’s Big Spring Clean campaign (18 March to 1...

COXHOE/ PARKHILL LITTER PICK

Every month we organise a litter pick in Coxhoe/ Parkhill. To play your part, contact your local Parkhill Residents Association member 2 bags of litter collected today

Cancelled- Agnew Community Association Litterpick (Newton Aycliffe)

Time- 11.30-1.00 Meeting Point Location- Agnew Community Centre

Witton Gilbert Litterpick

Time- TBC Meeting Point Location- TBC

Cancelled- West Cornforth In Bloom Litterpick

Time- 12.30-2.00 Meeting Point Location- The Park, West Cornforth

Witton Gilbert Litterpick

Time- TBC Meeting Point Location- TBC

Hamsterley and Low Westwood Community Association Litterpick

Time- 2.00pm Meeting Location- Hamsterley and Low Westwood Community Centre

Shincliffe Parish Council Litterpick

Time- 9.30 Meeting Location- Shincliffe Parish Councl

West Auckland Parish Council

Time- 10.00-12.00 Meeting Point Location- The Well, The Green, West Auckland

Cancelled- Acorn Residents Association Litterpick (Newton Aycliffe)

Time- 1.00pm Meeting Point Location- Priestman Road,The Green, Newton Aycliffe

Witton Gilbert Litterpick

Time- TBC Meeting Point Location- TBC

North Lodge Parish Council

Time- 10.00am Meeting Point Location- Lampton Worm carpark, North Road, Chester le Street

Hamsterley Litterpick

Time- 1.00pm-4.00pm Meeting Location- War Memorial Total Bags collected- 25 Total Volunteers-12

Etherley Parish Council Litterpick

Time- 9.30am-11.00am Meeting Point- Toft Hill Community Centre No of bags collected- 15 No of people attended- 10

Barnard Castle Ramblers Litterpick

Time- 2.30pm Meeting Point- Teesdale School Carpark No of bags collected- 15 No of people attended- 11

Wolsingham Neighbourhood Watch Litterpick

Litterpick to take place in Wolsingham between 1.00pm-3.00pm. Please meet at the town hall. Number of bags collected- 8 Number of people attended- 8

Shadforth Residents Litterpick

Time- 12.00 Meeting Location- Parish Hall Number of bags collected- 16 Number of volunteers- 10

The Big Spring Clean

Starting on Saturday 16th April and running for a full month until Friday 11th May, volunteer litter-picks will be happening throughout County Durham and Darlington as part of LitterFree Durham's 'Big...

Bolam Parish Meeting Litterpick

Litterpick due to take place from the Countryman Public House at 3.00pm Bags collected- 17 Number of people who attended- 16

THE BIG SPRING CLEAN

Starting on Saturday 19th March and running for a full month until Saturday 16th April, volunteer litter-picks will be happening throughout County Durham and Darlington as part of LitterFree Durham's ...

THE BIG SPRING CLEAN

LitterFree Durham CPRE Big Spring Clean 19 March to 16 April 2011 LitterFree Durham is a voluntary group within the County Durham Branch of CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural En...

Heighington Litter Pick

The Pick will start at 10 am and there will be three assembly points outside Heighington Village Hall, 2 Main Road, Redworth, and Old Farm Cottage, School Aycliffe. Refreshments in Heighington Villa...

Heighington Litter Pick

The Pick will start at 10 am and there will be three assembly points outside Heighington Village Hall, 2 Main Road, Redworth, and Old Farm Cottage, School Aycliffe. Refreshments in Heighington Villa...

Heighington Litter Pick

The Pick will start at 10 am and there will be three assembly points outside Heighington Village Hall, 2 Main Road, Redworth, and Old Farm Cottage, School Aycliffe. Refreshments in Heighington Villa...

Wolsingham Litter Pick

Please contact Anita Savory for details of the next litter pick in December

Heighington Litter Pick

The Pick starts at 10 am and there is a choice of three assembly points: outside Heighington Village Hall, 2 Main Road, Redworth, and Old Farm Cottage, School Aycliffe. And please join us after the P...

Heighington Litter Pick

The Pick starts at 10 am and there is a choice of three assembly points: outside Heighington Village Hall, 2 Main Road, Redworth, and Old Farm Cottage, School Aycliffe. And please join us after the P...

LitterFree Durham CPRE at Wolsingham Show

LitterFree Durham CPRE will have a stand at the Wolsingham Show on both Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th September. Please come and say hello and see our displays.

LitterFree Durham CPRE at Wolsingham Show

LitterFree Durham will have a stand at Wolsingham Show on both Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th September. Please come and say hello and see our displays.

Willington Wombles Litter Pick

The Willington Wombles are getting together again to pick litter in and around Willington. Please join us if you can - place of assembly and time to follow.

Wolsingham Litter Pick

Please meet in the centre of Wolsingham for a Litter Pick on Friday 13th August, 1.00-3.00pm. See you there!

Willington Wombles litter pick

The Willington Wombles will meet at 11am on Friday 25th June for another litter pick in the area. Further details will follow shortly.

Heighington Litter Pick

Heighington Parish Litter Group normally meets on the 2nd Saturday of each month, except in July and August. The Pick starts at 10 am and there is a choice of three assembly points: outside Heighin...

Wolsingham Litter Pick

This litter pick starts from Wolsingham market place at 10.15am. Please come and join us! This early success has led to a more regular group - look out for upcoming dates where we shall clear furthe...

Litter Pick in Castleside

We are organising a litter pick in Howns Gill, Castleside below the viaduct on May 15th meeting at 10am and we would be happy if any of you can join us to clear up this lovely stretch of countryside. ...

Heighington Litter Pick

Heighington Parish Litter Group normally meets regularly on the second Saturday of each month. The Pick starts at 10 am and there is a choice of three assembly points: outside Heighington Village Hal...

Sunnybrow Big Tidy-Up

We just completed a big tidy up day today in Sunnybrow, working with residents, volunteers, Greater Willington Town Council,Parkside school, Durham County Council, local street wardens and PCSOâ€...

Heighington's Big Spring Clean-Up

Heighington Parish Litter Group normally meets regularly on the second Saturday of each month (though on the thrid Saturday this month). The Pick starts at 10 am and there is a choice of three asse...

A first Wolsingham Litter-Pick

Anita Savory is organising a litter-pick in Wolsingham on Thursday 25th March, from 11am until 1pm meeting in Wolsingham Market Place. It is hoped that this will successfully launch a regular group i...

Willington Wombles Litterpicking in Oakenshaw

On this occasion the Willington Wombles will focus on the village of Oakenshaw and surroundings. Please meet in Oakenshaw at 11am for a probable two hours of litter picking. We look forward to seein...

Tidy Up for Mother's Day

Organised by the Benfieldside, Blackhill, Bridgehill & Shotley Bridge Community Partnership, this is going to be a mammoth litter-pick to get that entire area looking its absolute best just in time fo...

Litter Pick at Heighington

Heighington Parish Litter Group normally meets regularly on the second Saturday of each month (but please note the April date, which falls on the third Saturday). The Pick starts at 10 am and there...

Litter Picks in Cassop-cum-Quarrington and Bowburn

Cassop-cum-Quarrington Parish group meets at 9.30 am on the first Saturday of each month in the car park of the Community Centre on Durham Road, Bowburn. Contact:Sylvia Raine email sylvraine@tiny...

Heighington Litter-pick

Saturday 12 December 10.0 am - 12 noon HEIGHINGTON Off road A 6072 north of Darlington Meet by Village Hall on West Green

Heighington Litter-pick

Saturday 14 November 10.0 am - 12 noon HEIGHINGTON Off road A 6072 north of Darlington Meet by Village Hall on West Green

Heighington Litter-pick

Saturday 10 October 10.0 am - 12 noon HEIGHINGTON Off road A 6072 north of Darlington Meet by Village Hall on West Green

Heighington Litter-pick

Saturday 12 September 10.0 am - 12 noon HEIGHINGTON Off road A 6072 north of Darlington Meet by Village Hall on West Green

Heighington Litter Pick

Saturday 13 June 10.0 am - 12 noon HEIGHINGTON Off road A 6072 north of Darlington Meet by Village Hall on West Green

Litter Pick in Bowburn

Saturday 6 June 9.30 am - 11.30 am BOWBURN Just north of A1(M) junction 61 Meet at Community Centre on road A 177

Heighington Litter Pick

Saturday 9 May 10.0 am - 12 noon HEIGHINGTON Off road A 6072 north of Darlington Meet by Village Hall on West Green The Heighington Litter Pickers are a regular group that has been keeping the road...

Wheatley Hill Litter Pick

This event takes place as part of the Wheatley Hill Community Clean-Up which runs from May 9th to 15th. The litter pick starts at 10.00am this Saturday, 9th May 2009, meeting outside the county Prima...

Litter Pick in Bowburn

Saturday 6 June 9.30 am - 11.30 am BOWBURN Just north of A1(M) junction 61 Meet at Community Centre on road A 177

The Plastic Bag Free Seaham Launch

The Plastic Bag Free Seaham Launch is scheduled for Friday 1st May 2009 at Byron Place, from 11am-1pm. The plan is to give away free bags for life for those who are interested. There will also be a ...

Ryhope Litter Pick

Do you notice the litter and rubbish in Ryhope? Do you want to do something about it? Can you spare some time to volunteer? Join us on Saturday, 25th April. Meet at War Memorial on the Village Green a...

Fishburn Clean Up Day

Do you notice the litter and rubbish in Fishburn? Do you want to do something about it? Can you walk about a mile? Can you spare an hour to volunteer? If the answer to any of the above is yes, the...

Trimdon Grange Litter Pick

There were some 25 people, of whom about half were children. This group covers the four villages of Trimdon Grange, Trimdon Village, Trimdom Colliery and Trimdon Station. On this occasion those pic...

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Seaton Cycle Track Litter Pick

LitterFree Durham Launch

On Saturday, 12th July, LitterFree Durham campaign will be launched by Pam Royle at Heighington, recently judged 'Britain's perfect village'.It will be immediately followed by a Litter Pick. Meet at ...

Nearby Groups

These groups are near to you in case you want to contact them for advice, to offer them support or, for example, to share equipment with them.

Johnbaker
I am retired and collect litter as an individual. I started litter picking when I was living in Small Heath and collected more than 1,750 bags over a three year period. I have now moved to Coseley, which is far less blighted by litter, but it is still about. I collect litter two or three times a week around Upper Ettingshall Road, Ivy House Lane, Shaw Road and roads and alleys leading from that area.
1750
6 years
View
The Rudloe Mob
We are not really a group! We are a loose alliance! We started as dog walkers and photographers back in the 70s. I would be walking with our hound and stop to take a picture only to find that foreground rubbish had to be removed. This led to always taking bags for rubbish whenever I went out. For larger items (fly-tips etc) I would move them to a suitable roadside location and call the council who were (and are) very obliging. My “comrades” would do the same. This has been going on ever since (our last dog departed some years ago but the walking and photography continue).

My current (well actually for many years) “bete noire” is bagged dog crap. Twas quite funny, some years ago we had a serial crap flinger - it was everywhere: undergrowth, behind walls, brambles, trees etc. So, one weekend we decided to have a blitz on the stuff. We found about 250 bags in the undergrowth along Leafy Lane, over 100 in one location behind a dry stone wall and so on - a total of around 700 bags altogether. I was walking down my road with a bin bag of bagged dog crap over each shoulder when a neighbour stopped me and asked what I had in the bags! Since that time he and his wife have been inveterate litter pickers. The bagged dog crap problem continues. I have picked up about 30 in various locations over the past couple of weeks (this statement will be approximately true whenever you are reading this!). I used to think that this was just one halfwit on the loose, but it appears that this extraordinary behaviour is common practice. I believe (and I have written to Wilts CC about this) that the socially-acceptable practice of bagging dog crap, binning it and dumping it into landfill is an aberration. We have programmes on TV where ologists of various kinds look at ancient middens to find out how people lived. What will future ologists think of our society?

“Look - they used to wrap up their dog crap and bury it - how weird!”

Talking of weird, an odd incident occurred during my 23 Jan 2012 pick-up. I had a good bin-bag full of rubbish which I was attempting to stuff into the waste bin at Northleaze Mobile Home Park when one of a posse of locals shouted over “Oi - what do you think you’re doing?”. A small exchange ensued during which I explained that this was at least a weekly occurrence and I was tidying-up THEIR environment. But they were having none of it - “You can’t do that”, one said. I should say that this lady did offer to put the rubbish in her own bin but by this time the bin-bag was ripped and taking it out again would have seen the rubbish spilled on the ground. Anyway, their objection seemed to be one of possession - it was their bin! This would be fair enough if the bin was ever used but every time I deposit rubbish in that bin, it is empty (as it was on this occasion). It seems that they want theoretical of the bin without ever using it! Anyway my bin-bag was stuffed into the bin; the bin was emptied by the council the next morning and I stuffed a further bag of rubbish into it later that day. It is odd that no account is taken of rubbish lying in the street but clearance of that same rubbish invokes local disapproval!

Another anecdote - for many years, on Sunday mornings when out walking the dog, I would find an empty bottle of South African white wine (always South African) and an empty (70cl) bottle of vodka tightly knotted into a Tescos plastic bag in the lay-by in White Ennox Lane. What a wild time they must have had and what an interesting drive home.

The bizarre things you find when out collecting rubbish! Today, 25 Nov 2012, it was the “Bath & Wells Diocesan News”, No 264, December 1980 (see pic)! This was by the bus stop at the top of Box Hill. I can imagine the Bishop of Bath & Wells waiting for the bus in his vestments with his mitre and crosier (or is that Catholic bishops?) and unfortunately dropping his News on boarding the bus. One of the News items was the 1980 General Synod at which a major issue would be the ordination of women! Now, thirty-two years on, the Synod has been voting on women bishops. What a slow-moving organisation the C of E is!

By the way, the 20,000 or so bags picked up is an estimate, but probably a conservative one. My weekly pick-up is about 8 bags - 8x52x32(years) is about 13,000. I am, no doubt, doing a great disservice to the rest of the Mob in estimating their input as only 7,000 bags - watch out for the update.

The following table started in 2012, which I will try to update regularly, gives an idea of the scale of the ‘problem’.

1 Jan 2012: B3109, Skynet Drive, field edge 4+bags+mattress - called Wilts CC
2 Jan 2012: Leafy Lane, woods and playing fields, 5 bags
3 Jan 2012: Boxfields Road, Box Hill Common 3 bags+ fly tip - called Wilts CC
4 Jan 2012: Quarry Hill, 3 bags + bagged dog crap (BDC)
5 Jan 2012: B3109, A4 to Hare & Hounds 5 bags+ BDC (7 bags)
6 Jan 2012: Leafy Lane & A4 towards Corsham, 5 bags
7 Jan 2012: B3109, Skynet Drive, Park Lane, 4 bags+ BDC
8 Jan 2012: A4 towards Box, 2 bags
9 Jan 2012: B3109 & A4 towards Corsham, 4 bags
12 Jan 2012: Boxfields Road 1 bag+ small fly tip - called Wilts CC
16 Jan 2012: B3109 & A4 towards Corsham, 4 bags
17 Jan 2012: B3109, Skynet Drive, The Carriage Drive, Pound Mead, 7 bags
23 Jan 2012: B3109 & A4 towards Corsham, 3 bags + BDC
24 Jan 2012: B3109 & A4 towards Corsham, 2 bags
28 Jan 2012: Leafy Lane & B3109 from small Fiveways towards Corsham, 1 bag
7 Feb 2012: B3109 and A4 towards Corsham, 1 bag
8 Feb 2012: Leafy Lane and woodland, 2 bags
12 Feb 2012: A4 towards Box, 4 bags
13 Feb 2012: Rudloe Firs and A4 towards Corsham 10 bags (and still stuff remaining)
13 Feb 2012: (later) B3109, 2 bags
21 Feb 2012: B3109, 1 bag
23 Feb 2012: B3109, Leafy Lane, Leafy Lane Playing Fields, 14 bags

Okay, I guess you get the picture so with one month being very much like another I will discontinue the diary. This is a week-on-week, year-on-year occupation. The last pick-up listed above is instructive though - let me elaborate .. Leafy Lane Playing Fields is a 20 acre site at the south-eastern edge of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Its users include football clubs, cricket clubs etc but the principal user is AFC Corsham who do an outstanding job in providing opportunities for young people to play football. AFC Corsham runs 15 teams for youngsters between the ages of around 5 to 15/16. You can imagine therefore the number of youngsters provided for and the scores of parents who ferry their charges back and forth from home to ground and back. All fine BUT it appears that not one of the committee, managers and coaches, parents or others gives a hoot about the enormous piles of litter which are left to accumulate week after week. Rather than an AONB, Leafy Lane Playing Fields resembles a rubbish tip. The Rudloe Mob has an onslaught on the accumulation every couple of months or so. Of the 14 bags collected on 23rd February 2012, 10 came from the playing fields and this was just the tip of the iceberg (see photographs of some of what still remains). The state of the playing fields is, I believe, representative of the state of Britain. A 20-acre site frequented by a community of users who deposit rubbish then cheerfully wander through that same rubbish without giving it a second thought. With regard to litter, whether it is at community or national level, in general “we” couldn’t care less.

In the eighties “that cow” (as described by our local MP at the time, the 6th Earl of Kilmorey or Sir Richard Needham) appointed Richard Branson as the uncrowned king of litter - see this 2005 Guardian article on the subject https://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2005/sep/24/comment - but his campaign along with all others, like the long-established Keep Britain Tidy, failed or is failing. It is not good enough to have high-profile personalities, photo-shoots and high-salaried executives with meaningless job descriptions - take a look at the job description for the £40k plus Head of Communications and Marketing at Keep Britain Tidy:

OUTCOMES TO BE DELIVERED
*Implementation and delivery of the five year communications strategy and annual action plan
*Enhanced reputation of Keep Britain Tidy and its sub-brands
*Senior management feel supported through provision of strategic advice and guidance
*New income streams developed, for example, from behaviour change campaigns
*Stakeholders strategically managed and influenced
*Resources managed effectively within budget to meet to customer demand
*Visible leadership to the relevant communications teams as well as across the wider organisation
*Enhanced profile of the organisation with the relevant audiences
*Public membership scheme developed and successfully implemented, when agreed

Talk about Nero fiddling while Rome burns! We are drowning in a sea of rubbish! You can see the outcome of almost 60 years of Keep Britain Tidy in the small community area covered by this Litteraction webpage. YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO GET OUT THERE AND PICK UP RUBBISH -REGULARLY!
20750
54 years
View
Hortham litter bashers
Banishing litter from Hortham Village and its surroundings
16
5 years
View
BENNETTS COMMUNITY CREW
Bennett\'s Community Crew are a team of people from Bennett Restaurants Ltd. (a franchise of McDonald\'s) who want to make a difference in their local area. We currently have 18 restaurants across Hampshire, Dorset & Wiltshire and St Helier in Jersey. As well as doing litter patrols on a daily basis in our local areas, we have bigger events at least quarterly. We have been working in our local communities from before 2011 however only formed as Bennett\'s Community Crew in early 2015. We have a Planet Champion in each of our restaurants who champion their local community. We are always looking for local events to take part in.
1807
13 years
View
PSMT
Areas around the River Thames
11
2 years
View
Causeway Litter Collectors
Litter picking in the area along The Causeway, Coopers Lane Road and Coopers Lane.
0
2 years
View
Cheddington Residents Litter Pick
We conduct two litter picks a year and have done so since may 1997. Usually in May and October on a Saturday morning.
0
26 years
View
Mid Sussex Litter Busters
We are a group of local residents concerned about litter spoiling our environment. Our aim is to keep our area of Mid Sussex looking clean, tidy and litter free resulting in a more pleasant and safe environment for everyone and its wildlife to live in. We aim to achieve this through occasional Litter Picks We very much welcome new members. To see a report on past events: click on 'view' alongside that event.
19
15 years
View
Tiptree Litter Combers
We are a group of like minded volunteers who clear litter within the Tiptree village and surrounding lanes and woodlands on a regular basis.
1062
16 years
View
Yorkswood-birmingham res association litterpickers
We are currently a group of 4 Mike,jodie,rob and lynda (aka the dream team) We tackle litter/flytipping/graffiti,drug crime in shardend/yorkswood
851
2 years
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Start a LitterAction group

Here at CleanupUK, we want to help you to take LitterAction! Wherever you live in the UK, forming your own community litter-picking group will help to keep your community safer, more friendly and free of litter. It’s lots of fun too. Why not muck in and join us?

Empower your group