Pride of the Borough (Oadby & Wigston )

We have come together to do positive things, where we can see ways we can help, to make our town even better than we already know it is. We love Broadstairs. We know that most of the people who live here do too and that visitors often fall in love with it from the moment they arrive. It's a great place. But nowhere is perfect and let's face it, if it was it would be boring. We're always thinking of new ideas of things we can do that will make a positive difference and address some of the issues and challenges our town faces. Our aim therefore : Make Broadstairs an even nicer place to work in, live in or visit.

A potential group for pickers in Watford, not yet formed!

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.

I have just started this group, having been surprised to find there is no group in Exeter. I would particularly like to find people willing to help keep the 'Valley Parks' litter free.

We are taking litter picking in to our own hands. We are fed up with plastic bags and rubbish littering our streets, blowing in to our gardens and spoiling our pavements. We are proud of where we live and want to encourage others to care for our streets as we do. Our vision is for a clean environment for our families and friends. We are an open group and welcome anyone to join.

As our contribution to the Duke of Edinburgh’s scheme volunteering requirement, and as local residents (who dog walk, run and cycle across the heathlands), we are collecting litter for the next 12 weeks and will carry on after that to clean up the woodlands and heaths surrounding camberley. We will focus on barossa and diamond ridge hence the name of the group being Diamond Geezers.

To create a community keen to contribute to keep our parks clear of rubbish. To encourage people to take responsibility for litter regardless of how it go there. To create a local voice for protecting and improving our environment.

We are a revitalised 'clean-up' group of some 20 years' standing which incorporated collaboration with other agencies such as the Environment Agency, TCV, Highways and Groundwork as well as improving communication with our LA, local farmers and schools. Our aims broadened to include two new elements, namely education on litter and LA backed health walks. The latter has enabled people to enjoy our rural pathways, which are now regularly litter-picked, and at the same time build up their stamina in walking for health. In 2011, through fundraising, we were able to purchase two community notice boards to further publicise local events and amenities and our aims. We were very grateful to Groundwork Merseyside for installing them. It continues to be very satisfying to see people reading the notices displayed there and to see some new helpers on our litter-picks and new walkers on our health walks as a result. Both noticeboards were renovated this year, 2018 with help from a grant from Cronton Parish Council, for which we thank them. Our LA, Knowsley MBC, has always been supportive but In recent years, due to funding cuts to LAs we have had reduced contact with them, although they continue to help us by removing the bags of litter we collect on our biannual litter picks. We forged links with one of our neighbouring LAs, Halton, with a view to liaising on littering of our border areas. They provided us with litter-pickers and bags. This has made a big difference to our effectiveness. Updated 24.3.2018

Our local guide unit would like to arrange at least one, if not two litter picking days in our village per year. I would like to know where to get the picker sticks from and vests etc

One of the Mendip Society's aims is to care for the Mendip Hills. The beauty of this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is being compromised by the rubbish left behind by it's thousands of visitors (and residents too!) This group of members is starting to wage a war on litter, joining up with other groups whenever we can.