Hoveton Hates Litter

Our aim is to continue keeping Mill Lane England's cleanest lane.

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.

Starting from a group of two, and hoping to grow, the mantra is 'if it's being dropped, then it needs picking up' ...we are going to fulfil this task, and hope this encourages less dropping, and more picking! If you see rubbish, don't tell us, pick it up yourself!

The Trust has been in existence for over 20 years but only started its annual spring litter pick in 2007. Normally between 10 and 20 people turn out to help. We also have individual members that keep their local area free of litter. We are a registered charity, which aims to improve the environment in the village and promote a high standard of development, whether it be in new buildings or the renovation and alteration of existing property. We aim to secure the protection and improvement of features of public and historic interest and encourage an interest in the history of the area. Issues that we have addressed over recent years include the desirability and standard of new development proposals and changes to the use and appearance of existing buildings, a wide variety of traffic and highway issues, litter and dog fouling. We have arranged for the erection of plaques to provide information about people and buildings of historic interest, organised village litter pick days and had a variety of speakers at our open meetings. We have presented Design Awards for the best new development, following a poll of members. In the past we have published booklets of items about the history and development of the village and produced a leaflet of heritage trails in the village. More recently we have produced a local directory and been assisting the local businesses and community groups in organising the Shotley Bridge Victorian Christmas Weekend, including litter picks to keep the village looking attractive during the event. In 2011 we were awarded 'outstanding' in the RHS 'It's Your Neighbourhood" award scheme for Britain in Bloom. We have purchased 50 flower tubs, 8 barrier baskets and a trough for the conservation area and our volunteers plant and maintain summer & winter bedding. in 2012 we entered Northumbria in Bloom and were awarded Silver. We gained a Silver Gilt in 2013 and again in 2014. We are aiming for Gold in 2015. Each year we give awards for the best business & residential floral displays. Open meetings are held 3 times a year in the Catholic Church Hall for members and guests to raise and discuss issues arising in the village. Please visit our website for further information.

We see litter on our streets, we pick it up. We take ACTION, not ISSUE. We meet on the first Saturday of every month for an hour's "group litter-picking session," followed by a social cuppa.

We co-ordinate activities for the CPRE litter campaign Stop the Drop in County Durham and Darlington. These include acting as a central focus to which reports of litter grot spots may be made; making regular personal contact with Local Authorities, Parish Councils and tourism organisations; organising litter picks throughout the county; spreading publicity for the Campaign; and taking a programme of litter-awareness education into local schools. To report a Grot Spot, email us or phone 01325 315580. The group's website is: http://www.litterfreedurham.org.uk/index.html

just an hour a week walking the lanes will keep our parish clean and tidy and enjoy some fresh air and a little exercise at the same time !

Handsworth Helping Hands is a voluntary group committed to improving the quality of life in Handsworth, Birmingham. This may be by carrying out environmental work such as street clean-ups and clearing and planting public spaces, or by helping residents with jobs they can't or don't have the means to do for themselves. Whenever possible, we recycle materials and items such as furniture and toys that we find on the street or which are donated to us.

Solo at moment but will try to get local surport. Just returned from asia thought the pictures I saw on internet were made up. Now seen with my own eyes the problem are world is in.

We are a neighbourhood co-operative, here to make the area greener and cleaner and promote local responses to the climate emergency.