Litter picking kits to support spring clean efforts

Litter picking kits are being given out to parishes across Daventry District as part of a national initiative to tidy up our streets and open spaces.

A total of 375 kits will be shared among the 72 parish areas as well as groups in Daventry as part of the Great British Spring Clean, which encourages people to tidy up their communities.

They have been purchased by Daventry District Council (DDC) using a High Street Community Clean-Up grant from the Government.

Each kit includes a litter picker, high-vis tabard, gloves, litter bags and hoops to assist with litter picking.

Also included is a support pack featuring a step-by-step guide for holding a litter pick, information on safety and best practice, a risk assessment form, and instructions for arranging collection of the rubbish by the Council’s environmental services partner Daventry Norse.

DDC is hoping parish councils and other groups will use the kits to organise community litter picks during the Great British Spring Clean - which runs until April 23 - as well as throughout the year.

They are asking volunteers to record how many times they use the kits, the number of people taking part and the amount of rubbish collected, so they can gauge community involvement in the scheme.

DDC also has a number of litter picking kits available for loan for groups or individuals planning one-off community litter picking events and can arrange for the collection of litter picked up by volunteers.

Councillor Jo Gilford, Environment Portfolio Holder at Daventry District Council, said: “We are always keen to support groups and individuals who care about their local environment and we are very grateful to all the people who have made great use of our loan kits in recent years.

“This grant from Government has given us an opportunity to provide parishes with their own sets, hopefully making it even easier for people to carry out community litter picks in their local area.

“Volunteering for something like a litter pick can be very rewarding and is a great way to meet fellow members of the community. It also helps reinforce the message that littering is not acceptable. The focus at the moment is on the Great British Spring Clean, but hopefully these kits will provide benefit to communities across the District for many years to come.”

People can find out more about litter picking and how to borrow additional litter-picking equipment at www.daventrydc.gov.uk/litterpick