An army of 800 volunteer covered a distance of 311km and helped to collect more than 500 bags of rubbish.
The Great Cumbrian Litter Pick on May 21 and 22 saw 75 groups right across Cumbria cover a distance of 311km gathering over 500 bags of rubbish.
Y4 took part in the Great Cumbrian Litter Pick today, collecting litter from our local area @FriendsofLakes #greatcumbrianlitterpick pic.twitter.com/BSdwiWypeF
— South Walney Juniors (@swalneyj) May 21, 2021
The annual event, organised by conservation charity Friends of the Lake District, brought together schools, community groups, organisations and businesses to highlight the problems of littering and the huge amount of voluntary work that goes into keeping the county clean.
Ruth Kirk, landscape engagement officer said, “The Great Cumbrian Litter Pick takes place over two days, but many of the people who took part are out with litter pickers and bags day in and day out. Research shows that when a place is clear of litter, others are less likely to drop rubbish so this is a vital task that volunteers are doing.
“Ultimately we need to make littering socially unacceptable and there is a long way to go to change people’s behaviour. Discarded debris doesn’t just look horrible, it harms wildlife and our spectacular landscapes.”
Thanks to all those colleagues from our team, other organisations and all the fantastic volunteers who are out as part of the Great Cumbrian Litter Pick. Here’s Jo from Safer Lakes helping out with @LakesPlasticCol’s pick at Keswick. pic.twitter.com/YitP6Zvi3J
— TheLakesTony ???????? (@TheLakesTony) May 22, 2021
Some of the items found included a 1980s cash register, a rubber duck, plastic toys, shoes, socks, a bra, a caravan toilet, balls of all types, coconut shells, a spade, carpet, and a giant inflatable rubber tyre tube as well as the ever-present cans, bottles and dog poo bags.
Children from Hawkshead Primary School spent a day clearing their village with one staff member commenting: “The day was a mixture of emotions, pride in our beautiful village but saddened and angered that there was so much litter strewn about.”
Ruth added: “We are so proud of and grateful to everyone who turned out to take part in the Great Cumbrian Litter Pick 2021. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if one day, we didn’t have to?”
The Lakes Plastic Collective, Lake District Diving and the National Trust supported the event and the European Outdoor Conservation Organisation and Smartwool sponsored it.
