Countryside Alliance urges its army of members to join in litter-picking

The Countryside Alliance has urged its 100,000 members to join in the litter-picking when the Great British September Clean begins on Friday.

It wants them to sign up to the huge clean-up, which runs until September 27, and has pledged to collect at least 10,000 pieces of rubbish.

In the campaign, run by Keep Britain Tidy and backed by the Daily Mail, we are encouraging the public and businesses to help pick up litter in their local parks, countryside and beaches.

Tim Bonner, Countryside Alliance chief executive, said: ‘There are few things that annoy us as much as mindless littering in our beautiful Great British countryside.

‘With the lockdown offering people the opportunity to have a clear-out, fly-tipping and littering in the countryside became one of the many negative side-effects of the pandemic, particularly when local waste recycling centres were shut.

‘This is simply unacceptable and has proven to be a massive blight for many rural communities.

‘Our friends and supporters have always been keen to take practical steps and are very pleased to support the Daily Mail with this excellent campaign.’

The alliance has already staged a litter-pick with the Masters of the Surrey Union Hunt and their children during a walk with the hunt’s puppies in Ockley, Surrey.

The campaign group, which supports countryside pursuits, has long warned of the pollution and litter blighting our green areas and waterways since the beginning of lockdown.

It will send forms to every member inviting them to take part in or organise their own litter picks in their community, on their farm or by their local river.

During 2019’s Great British Spring Clean, it helped organise more than 50 litter picks. 

This year, the alliance hopes its Countryside Clean-up weekend on September 19-20 will be just as successful.

The 2020 Great British September Clean is encouraging everyone to hit their streets, parks and beaches in the fight against litter. It is easy to get involved in an organised event in your area, with a maximum of six people.

Or you can pledge to pick up litter solo, perhaps while walking the dog or on your way to or from work. If there is not a local litter pick, you can organise one.

The Prime Minister and the leaders of all Westminster political parties have pledged their support, as have the National Trust, Woodland Trust and some of Britain’s top companies.

The Mail has long fought to protect our environment with campaigns including Turn the Tide on Plastic, Be a Tree Angel and Curb the Cups. We also successfully pressed for the plastic bag levy.