[S]even Lake District youth hostels will be celebrating World Earth Day on Sunday 22 April with a giant clean up on land and water, and everyone is invited to get involved.
The unique Lake District landscape of mountain trails, valleys, shorelines, woods, parks and beaches, will be given a spring clean with the help of an army of volunteers.
YHA Borrowdale, YHA Honister Hause, YHA Keswick, YHA Ambleside, YHA Grasmere Butharlyp Howe, YHA Coniston Holly How and YHA Eskdale are calling on people to support the family friendly litter pick and activities.
No experience is needed just a willingness to get involved and improve your local area. The events are open to everyone of any age.
As well as the clean-up, each youth hostel will also be hosting family-friendly activities and free candlelit ‘unplugged’ music sessions with artists including Jack Rosies, Sleephawk, Eskdale and Wasdale Folkies, Robyn Wallis Johnson, Charlie Hole, Joseph Knight, Sunflower Thieves, Tom Hyatt and Rory Connor.
Damian Parker, manager of YHA Ambleside, who is organising a shore side and Lake Windermere litter pick, explained: “We value the environment and strongly believe in respecting the surroundings of each and every youth hostel.
“Our World Earth Day litter picks and shore side clean ups are a great opportunity to do what we do best – bring people together, get young people engaged in their surroundings, make a difference and, importantly, have fun. We hope that families will join us for what will be fantastic events. There’s no commitment, they simply have to turn up and have fun.”
The litter picks and evening music sessions will also launch the new Green Initiative of YHA (England and Wales), which has seen the leading youth charity remove plastic straws, install energy meters and monitor rubbish at each one of its 160-strong network of youth hostels.
Last year the government unveiled plans to double fines for people caught dropping rubbish to £150 as part of the ‘litter strategy for England,’ which aims to reduce the near £800m burden to the taxpayer of clean-up costs.
To find out more and take part in the World Earth Day YHA litter picks in the Lake District visit www.yha.org.uk/world-earth-day
