We're hoping lots of people across the county will help with an annual spring clean on Friday 22 to Saturday 23 March.

Back for its seventh year, the Great Cumbrian Litter Pick aims to bring schools, community groups, organisations and businesses together to pick up litter through organised events across the county or by taking individual action. In doing so, we hope to highlight the problem of litter and the huge amount of voluntary work that goes into keeping one of the most beautiful parts of the country clean.

Last year 270 people took part in the litter pick, collecting 90 large bin bags of litter. Kay Andrews, Landscape Engagement Officer said: “The Great Cumbrian Litter Pick takes place over two days, but many of the people who take part are regularly out litter picking.

“At the end of 2020, we commissioned Keep Britain Tidy to research why people litter and to recommend what could be done to change this behaviour. The research found more than a quarter of people (26%) admit to leaving litter behind, and many (52%) expect to find litter bins even in the remotest wild valleys and fells. The report concluded that that there is no quick and easy solution but the more we can spread the message of ‘leave no trace’ the better. One way to demonstrate this is through the action of an incredible army of volunteers, tidying up after others. One day we hope there will be no need for volunteers to do this,” added Kay.

Anyone can take part in The Great Cumbrian Litter Pick at any level. For example, by making it part of a regular dog walk, or a family day out, or by organising or joining a community litter pick.

We have produced an interactive map showing all the public litter picks happening in the county. People are advised to keep checking for updates as new events are registered. Anyone can register a litter pick and find more information at the same time.

People can also contact Kay Andrews via email at [email protected]

Since we launched the annual event, it has involved divers litter picking the depths of Windermere, dog trainers using their dogs to find litter, schools, groups and individuals litter picking from mountain summits to lakes and beaches. The charity says findings are as varied as dog poo bags and coffee cups to a type writer and a toy soldier found on a beach.