Volunteers and community groups across Wealden were out in force during the Great British Spring Clean, which ran from 28 May – 13 June.
Over 50 individuals and community groups took part this year, still under the protection of COVID-19 prevention measures.
Organised litter picks during the Keep Britain Tidy campaign collected over 300 bags of litter from the District’s streets and open green spaces. A 50% increase on the 200 plus bags collected in 2020. With many groups now taking to the streets throughout the year, it’s estimated that over 700 bags of litter have been collected since April 2021.
“Every year we are bowled over by the dedication of our community litter pickers, and this year is no different.” Said Councillor Roy Galley, Cabinet Member for Waste and Climate Change.
“They’ve risen to the challenge once again and we are incredibly grateful. We can’t thank them enough for taking their own time, during all weathers, to clean up after the careless few. It is with their help and dedication that we can keep littering in Wealden under control, protecting our wildlife and environment. Collecting over 700 bags of litter is astounding and of course it shouldn’t even be there in the first place.
“We still have some way to go to educate and change the behaviour of those who do and continue to litter. Together with the help of our community volunteers, we are very hopeful that the message is getting across.”
Litter picking events in some Wealden towns and villages are now a regular fixture, with groups like Brighter Crowborough, Brighter Heathfield, Brighter Uckfield, and the Wealden Wombles organising clean-ups through-out the year.
The Council’s anti-littering campaign launched at the end of May. The “Do the right thing!” campaign will continue to reinforce how costly littering is to the taxpayer, the environment, and our local wildlife. It is also helping to shine a light on the many community groups and volunteers who strive to keep the District free of litter.
Photo: members of the Wealden Wombles, courtesy of Jacqui Brown.