Kent primary school children join litter-picking campaign
The scheme is part of the Great British Spring Clean, which is organised by Keep Britain Tidy and now in its tenth year. Dover District Council has led the campaign locally.Rebecca Dyer, community development manager at the council, said the authority spent £1.5m each year on street cleaning."So we are trying to educate and engage people from a young age," she told BBC Radio Kent.
Kelly Taylor is the teaching assistant who encouraged the whole of Eythorne and Elvington Primary School to take part."I have been surprised how much rubbish there is when you start to look and pick," she said."There are lots of little pieces, but then whole chairs."
The campaign will end with a final pick at King George V Recreation Ground in St Margaret's at Cliffe on 6 April.Since 2016, Keep Britain Tidy says the the Great British Spring Clean has become the nation's biggest mass-action environmental campaign.Waste management company Veolia is also clearing roadsides over the next two weeks in Kent.The company cleared 23 tonnes (23,000kg) of litter from the road between the Duke of York and Whitfield roundabouts on the A2 in 2024 as part of a council initiative.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
05-08-2025
- BBC News
Heckmondike campaigners call for an end to 'careful littering'
A campaign to highlight the impact of "careful littering" will be trialled in a West Yorkshire to Keep Britain Tidy, "careful littering" involves people leaving disposable cups, newspapers and other items placed on benches or walls, rather than throwing them on the charity has chosen to focus on the issue in Heckmondwike as part of its efforts to tackle the Lonsdale, a volunteer with Keep Hecky Tidy, said: "Getting rid of litter brings back a sense of pride, if there is litter everywhere it shows that people do not care but if we can make the town look better it attracts people here." Ms Lonsdale, 60, has been volunteering with the group for the past four years and regularly takes part in litter picks in the town."I think it is great that we are the catalyst for something that is going to go nationwide," she said."It absolutely frustrates me when there is litter, it is just pure laziness."Some of the things we have found you really do not want to know about."According to Keep Britain Tidy, one in four people in Heckmondwike admit to "careful littering".The organisation's work in the town will help to shape its litter reduction efforts across the UK, a spokesperson said. The campaign will see new signs placed across the town and litter picking events held in partnership with schools and businesses.A series of images showing living statues leaving coffee cups, sandwich wrappers and newspapers have also been commissioned by the organisation to highlight the issue."This is about the kind of littering that everybody will see but many do not even think of as littering, like a coffee cup placed on a step," said Helen Bingham, from Keep Britain Tidy."They are not mindlessly throwing but it is still littering, it makes a place look unloved and uncared for."It increases fear of crime and it impacts economic growth because people do not want to invest in somewhere that looks like no one cares."She said the organisation would monitor attitudes to the campaign in the town in order to "develop a blueprint and shift the dial on littering". Campaigners said education was key to tackling the Gautry, founder of Keep Hecky Tidy, said volunteers often saw cans "popped on top" of walls."They get blown off, it is really important people understand it is all littering, whether you are throwing it or leaving it somewhere", she said. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
26-07-2025
- BBC News
Ulverston's charity-owned park awarded green flag
A charity-run park has been awarded a green flag in recognition of its Park in Ulverston, Cumbria, was handed the award by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, which recognises high-quality green spaces."Ford Park is a vital green space for communities in Ulverston to enjoy nature and during the ongoing cost of living crisis it is a free and safe space for families to socialise," said Paul Todd, the awards scheme park's management said they were "thrilled" with the award, which recognised the hard work of volunteers. "We're incredibly proud to be recognised for the care and commitment that goes into maintaining our eight-acre community greenspace," a spokesman park has a kitchen garden, an orchard, trails and an adventure play is situated just below the Sir John Barrow Monument on Hoad Hill, which has been portrayed by celebrated artist LS Lowry. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
25-07-2025
- BBC News
Poor water quality and sewage at Deal's beach cause concerns
An reading for bathing water in a Kent coastal town has led a charity to warn that a "miracle" is needed to hold its Boxing Day Dip this Rotary Club president Edward Barkway told the BBC the new recording taken this month at Deal Castle was 2.5 half times higher than last year's Barkway said this was a "death blow" for their event, which would normally raise about £10,000 for local charities. Southern Water said it was "working hard to play their part in protecting and enhancing water quality". Jamie Pout, leader of the Independent Group at Dover District Council, said he had written to both the environment secretary, Steve Reed, and MP for Dover and Deal, Mike Tapp, calling for urgent latest reading was taken on the 7 July which recorded 9,900 colonies per 100ml of water, compared to the highest reading in 2024 which was 3,900 colonies per Pout said: "Why are things getting worse? Whoever took that reading must have been forced to wade through actual human waste. This new reading is maddening."Speaking about the impact to the local economy, he added: "Local shops, pubs, restaurants need answers to why sewage is being dumped in the sea." A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs said: "The government has put down the building blocks to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas. "Ofwat, the failed water regulator will be abolished, and we will establish a new, single, powerful regulator to clean up our waterways for good."Sarah Waite from Save our Seas Deal and Walmer said: "Our hopes of things getting better have been dashed by this new data." The local campaign group added they were working to set up a "day of action" in the town following recent data on water quality. 'Deal a no-go town' Mr Barkaway added the Boxing Day Dip had to be cancelled last year due to poor water quality. "So many local community and businesses benefit from the event, so to have to cancel it again would effectively brand Deal as a no-go holiday town."A Southern Water spokesperson said there were "many contributing factors" impacting water quality. "This includes industrial, agricultural and highway run-off, and it is vital all partners come together to protect the environment," they added."In Kent, our teams continue to work with partners including the Environment Agency, Kent County Council and Dover District Council to understand the issues affecting water quality and to find and fix problems as quickly as possible."
