PARISH PICKERS COPYTHORNE

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.

We clean beaches for the protection of wildlife and have successfully lobbied West Norfolk council for a ban on the mass release of balloons and sky lanterns. We clean beaches around the coast of West Norfolk.

Commissioned group of the South Area Council, Barnsley. Working with you to make your community better - we are going to make our community a better place to live for future generations.

The aim is to bring together like-minded people to tackle the problem of litter in Baildon and to encourage others not to ignore the problem but to be part of the solution.

We have 26 active litter pickers each one of whom takes responsibility for a stretch of road or an area of green space. We meet occasionally to review tactics and to swop ideas. We have a massive litter pick once a year to shift an area of accumulated rubbish. We have good relations with the Parish Council and the local authority who are great at clearing flytipping when we inform them.

We are a local authority primary school and are wanting to contribute to the community where litter is concerned.

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.

As a resident's group we are keen to maintain and protect our environment

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.

Litter picking in Epping Forest