North Lanarkshire Dumpers

Tidy Tavi volunteers meet on the first Saturday each month to pick up litter from the streets and public spaces of the lovely town of Tavistock in Devon. We have been operating since October 2012 and attendance varies from about 18-30 local residents. We do not operate any sort of membership scheme or register. Volunteers simply come along when they can spare some time. This is important because we do not want anyone to feel committed to join in every month, or even for the full 2 hours. We work from 10 AM to midday and frequently fill 30-40 sacks of rubbish that are disposed of by West Devon District Council. Litter pickers, high visibility jackets, rubbish bags and hoops are provided. The group is supported by many local businesses including Tesco, who send some of their staff to help, and the Meadowlands Leisure Centre, where the group meets, who store our equipment for us. Several cafés in Tavistock supply free teas and coffees to volunteers. Critical support is also provided by our local newspaper, the Tavistock Times Gazette, who publish reports and print recruiting posters for the group.

Huntsham is a tiny village in mid Devon. For the last four years, Huntsham Society members and our local community (farmers and all) have joined forces twice a year to clean up all the many the lanes for a distance of 2-3 miles from the village; once in April before the verges are hidden in new growth, and once in October when the vegetation has died down and the litter can be seen. This April we had a turnout of over 100 helpers, including many children. We have recently combined our efforts with Mid Devon County Councils campaign to help keep Devon clean and green, also twice a year. It would be fantastic if neighbouring parishes could take up the challenge of keeping the lanes clear of litter.

Ilminster Forum is the local regeneration group that helps implement community projects for the benefit of the town and its residents identified through the Community Plan.

Friends of Riverside Park was set up following a failed attempt to build a water park on the land which is owned by East Sussex County Council & Lewes District Council and now known as Riverside Park, Newhaven. The site was up until the late 1970s/early 1980s a landfill site for the town. Once the site was full to capacity it was capped and left to nature. We now have a wonderful array of wildlife and recently funds were spent by the local Councils to make improvements including a properly laid circular path, benches dotted around the park, a bird viewing platform, owl nest box and various hibernacula and scrapes. Scrub has been managed to improve the quality of the soil. All this has been done with the help and assistance of the Friends of Riverside Park who work as a go-between the Community who use the Park and the Councils. As part of our ongoing support we organise monthly litter picks to safeguard the natural environment & are making other small improvements to the area including more litter bins and hopefully seating.

The Group operates under the aegis of the Town Council. Every Sunday morning, at 9.00, a small band of volunteers (open to anyone to attend) meets at the Civic Centre to conduct a 'swift-pick' in the worst-affected areas (finishing at about 11.00). The Campaign has moved onto taking small patches of public land in the town and overseeing planting out and maintenance. The town's annual beautiful gardens competition is organised by the Group. The Group joins the annual clear-up of the River Uck that flows through the town. Weeding pavements and cutting back undergrowth are also tasks that are taken on. Most of this work is concentrated on the town centre, but a network of 'litter pickers' is being gradually established on the estates around the town. Volunteers are provided with a hi-vi vest, a litter picking stick, gloves and refuse sacks - and we even have wheeled trolleys to take round with you to deal with the large amounts of litter on a Sunday morning. The Campaign has its own (Don't be a) "Mucky Duck" logo.

field, hedges, woodlands surrounding the area

To safeguard the environment of Stokes Bay and preserve and protect the flora and fauna within the area as well as providing practical assistance in maintaining a clean and safe environment in the area.

This group intends to make the areas around Bradshaw Hall Primary School an example how our public open space, roads, play grounds etc. should look like in terms of cleanliness. Currently, the area is in a relatively good condition when compared with some other areas across Greater Manchester which have been terribly affected by littering, dog fouling and fly tipping. However, there are still a lot of work to be done and a lot of mind-sets to change that it's each individual's responsibility to clean up their own mess.

We conduct two litter picks a year and have done so since may 1997. Usually in May and October on a Saturday morning.

We are part of the Frampton Cotterell and Coalpit Heath Village Action initiative. We aim to co-ordinate the efforts of local people in promoting awareness of the problem of litter; improving attitudes; and taking part in monthly organised litter picking, with the aim of keeping our villages pleasant and pretty. We know that many residents look after the roadsides and paths adjacent to their own homes and wish to encourage this. Some of our members carry chalk to mark dog fouling on pavements, to help people avoid stepping in it and to tell irresponsible dog owners that they should be clearing up after their pet. Litter picking can be very rewarding, and is an opportunity to get out and make new contacts in the village. Please get in touch if you can help in any way, however small. Please email us if there is any particular area in the village over which you have concerns about litter. In 2012 Nisa - Village Roots in Woodend Road gave us some funds and we have bought some hi-viz vests with 'Volunteer - Village Action Litter Busters' printed on them. We are grateful for their continuing support. South Glos Council support us with sacks, picker sticks and bag hoops. See Upcoming Events for dates and meeting points for monthly litter picks. Please see our gallery below for some pictures of our members, including two younger litter busters!