A ‘spring clean’ success for the district

The campaign, which began at the end of March, is the country’s biggest mass-action environmental campaign. This year the GBSC campaign focused on the #BigBagChallenge and asked people to pledge to pick a bag of litter from nearby streets, beauty-spots and green spaces in order to protect communities and wildlife habitats. Keep Britain Tidy have reported that almost half a million bags of waste were pledged this year.

In total the hard-working litter picking volunteers from Newark and Sherwood collected 232 bags of waste from around local areas, and various large items of waste were also collected including multiple car tyres and wooden fencing.

Litter picking events were organised all over the District, including areas of Bilsthorpe, Blidworth, Clipstone, Collingham, Clipstone, Girton, Grassthorpe, Harby, Kneesall, Lowdham, Milgate, Newark, North Clifton, North Muskham, Rainworth, Sherwood Heath, Sidney Street, Southwell, Thorney, Victoria Street, and Wigsley.

The volunteer litter picks were organised by local Parish Councils, established volunteer groups, local councillors, and some schools even took part.

The District Council worked with the volunteers to provide them with the equipment needed for the litter picking and afterwards came to collect any bags of waste collected and disposed of them. Some of the litter picking events were also attended by officers from the District Council.

Councillor Roger Jackson, Portfolio Holder for Cleaner, Safer, Greener, said: “It has been fantastic to see our community coming together to take part in the Great British Spring Clean. I’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone who got stuck in and helped tidy up their local area. It is encouraging to see volunteer litter picking groups successfully working together with the District Council.

“Taking the time and effort to organise the events and go out and tidy up after those who continue to blight our district with litter is no small task, and I commend all those who got out there and made a difference.

“We all want to take pride in the community we live in and campaigns like this really prove how dedicated our residents are to creating a cleaner, safer, greener Newark and Sherwood.”

The District Council offers support all year round to any person, parish council, school or local community group that would like to organise a voluntary litter pick in their area. Support provided includes promoting the pick locally to encourage involvement, providing equipment including black bags and high vis vests for your crew, collecting your waste.

For more information on community litter picks visit our website: https://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/communitylitterpicking/