Clean our patch - litter pickers

The Clean-up Team is part of West Rainton Green Group, which was formed in April 2003. We aim to remove litter from paths, bridleways, road verges and other open space in the vicinity of West Rainton, thereby improving the attractiveness of the local area. The work is undertaken by members of the Green Group in their spare time. We organise about five or six events each year, and members of our team also collect litter on an individual basis from time to time when the need arises. Since the start of the project we have collected 100 - 150 bags a year, and attempt to recycle as much as possible, particularly cans and bottles. Prior to each event contact is made with Durham County Council, who provide a truck to remove all the bags that are collected. We have contributed to national and regional environmental programmes such as Community Service Volunteers 'Action Earth' campaign, City of Sunderland's 'Just Bin It' campaign, Litterfree Durham's 'Big Spring Clean' and the ENCAMS 'Big Tidy Up'. Since 2009 we have worked in partnership with Network Rail to clean up a nearby length of disused railway. As well as litter-picking we also alert Durham County Council and City of Sunderland Council to fly-tipping in the vicinity of the village as soon as it happens. Prompt removal has significantly improved the visual appeal of local lanes and paths. About 300 incidents have been reported since 2003.

Red Lodge Parish Litter Pickers are a group which formed after Villagers suggested that the Parish should start a group to tackle the littering in the Village. Councillor Ian Thompson has organised the event with support from the Parish Council, it is to make the Village a more enjoyable place to live and bring the Community together to work as a team.

A voluntary community group whose aims are that local people adopt an area and help to keep it tidy

Helping to create a cleaner and safer Neighbourhood for all our residents and children.

I started litter picking as I was annoyed by the litter in the hedges outside Roys supermarket and it snowballed from there. I regularly litter pick around the village and also other areas whilst out and about. I am doing this for the wildlife and the environment.

This group closed in February 2014 as the organiser moved out of the area and there were no other members

CUDS was formed primarily to litter pick around our town and its environs. We do so about 4 times a month for 2 hours each time and then have a cup of tea and the all-important biscuits. We also strip useless bits of turf off areas, dig over, plant bulbs and sow wildflower seeds which we maintain on 2 roundabouts and various other places. At present we have about 28 members. We are not a charity - we are funded by grants for which I apply and have back-up from Dervizes Town Council's Park and Open Spaces team when we can't shift all the stuff we have collected ourselves. When we started over 3 years ago, we were viewed with some suspicion - as in 'Are you all doing Community Payback?' and so forth - interesting to think that a great group of oldies would be doing that! Now, in our bright blue hivis vests emblazed with CUDS on the back, nearly everybody knows who we are - and if they don't, they must have been asleep. We work with local groups - Beavers, the Canoe Club, The Lions at their Fair and recently with The Fulltone Orchestra at their free event in the Market Place. We are also planning our reward - apart from cake, which we have before our summer and Christmas breaks. This time we are going on a day out to visit various gardens in Somerset - it's great to be sociable and many have made firm friends within our group.

We hold a weekly Green Gym session where we litter pick and do low key enhancements to the nature area. Litter and fly tipping has been a major problem over the years but since we started the group over 6 years ago the site is a lot cleaner. Other users tend to pick as they go too.

We are a group of residents from BS4 who look after, maintain and enhance Brislington Brook and its environs, in Nightingale Valley and Saint Annes woods. We carry out litter picks, coppicing, tree planting and water testing. We also put on community events, walks and wildlife features.

At Pathway neighborhood, we are working for a better society, by giving the young people chances to learn how to act, develop, express, earn, belong and influence there community in a positive way. It is important to stress that young people, just like adults, learn through active participation.