Stafford Litter Heroes

As in previous years volunteer litter pickers in the Stafford area are preparing to join this year's Great British Spring Clean.

The nationwide event organised by the charity Keep Britain Tidy is now in its ninth
year and runs between 15th and 31st March. Community groups, parish
councils, schools, families and individuals are all due to take part in
a huge effort to clear litter and rubbish from the nation's towns,
cities and countryside.

The facts and figures surrounding litter in Britain are staggering.
Almost 48% of people in this country admit to dropping rubbish and the
amount discarded each year has increased by 500% since the 1960's. Seven
out of every 10 items of litter are food packaging and wrappers.

The financial costs of clearing up this deluge of rubbish are similarly
astronomical. Stafford Borough Council for example currently spend £1
million on litter clearance annually. Aside from the financial
ramifications, litter is devastating and often fatal for wildlife. Small
animals can become trapped inside bottles and birds frequently get
entangled in plastic packaging and other items of waste including
discarded fishing line.

Marine litter is also an ongoing major issue. It has been estimated that
100,000 marine mammals and reptiles such as dolphins, whales, turtles
and seals are killed and injured throughout the world by litter every
year in our seas and oceans.

Nearer to home local litter pickers were active throughout the previous
year and collected well over two tonnes of rubbish in a push to help
tidy up the area. In January 2023 the Stafford Litter Heroes
‘Littermeter’ was set to zero and as the year progressed groups and
individuals posted the weight of litter they collected on the group’s
Facebook page. By the end of December a grand total of 2718kg had been
picked up.

Villages and schools in the area joined the tidy up. Stafford Litter
Heroes gave the Eco Club at Stafford Manor High School a quantity of
litter pickers and litter hoops. Teacher Duncan Harrison, leader of the
Club said, “we are aiming to develop a clean and appealing environment
for students, staff and wildlife. Our new equipment will enable us to do
regular litter picks within the school grounds and hopefully beyond,
helping to develop biodiversity and protect wildlife. We have already
begun to overhaul the school vegetable gardens and intend to expand our
activities from there”.

Walton Hall Academy were also donated litter picking equipment by
Stafford Litter Heroes. The Academy has a proud tradition of community
responsibility and over the years students have volunteered to keep
their grounds litter free. In the coming months the Post 16 group at
Walton Hall will be putting their new equipment to good use in the
Stafford area.

Seighford has had its own litter picking team for over three years. The
Seighford Wombles were formed after an increase in discarded litter and
rubbish was noticed in the area. The group of volunteers were able to
help clear the village and surrounding area of recently dropped items
and also historical rubbish that had been lurking around for many years.
Mandy Cameron from the group said they are out on an almost weekly basis
dealing with newly dropped items and anything else that turns up.

Stafford Litter Heroes can be contacted at: staffordlitterheroes@gmail.com and their Facebook page continues to be a place for news of volunteer litter picking locally.