Published: Wednesday 23rd March 2022 | 11.42am
One Bag – Big Difference: Cannock Chase Council supports residents pledging to pick one bag of litter for charity’s Great British Spring Clean campaign
The Council is today encouraging people to pledge to do their bit to clear up the litter that blights the District during the Great British Spring Clean 2022.
This year’s mass campaign, from 25 March to 10 April, calls on families, neighbours, friends and colleagues to join forces and pledge to pick a bag of litter from nearby streets, parks and beauty spots in order to protect our vibrant communities and precious wildlife habitats.
The call to action comes as the charity reveals taking eco action in the outdoors appears to be critical to the wellbeing of our communities, with significant benefits to people’s mental health.
In a survey of people who took part in 2021, 86% said volunteering helped improve their mood, up from up 79% in 2020.
More than half (52%) agreed it helped them meet new people and make friends, and a staggering 91% agreed they felt more pride in their local area after participating.
Almost everybody surveyed (98%) agreed the campaign reduced the impact of litter on wildlife and the natural environment.
The Great British Spring Clean, now in its seventh year, brings together individuals, community organisations, businesses and councils to make a difference to the environment on our doorstep - and the charity is keen to stress litter picking can be accessible to everybody with the right resources.
The charity reports a significant increase in the number of people litter picking in the great outdoors to help their mental wellbeing, following the additional pressures triggered by the pandemic.
Councillor Justin Johnson, Portfolio Leader of Environment and Climate Change said: “We are calling on residents to help improve the environment they live in and to take part in the #BigBagChallenge. If you would like to get involved, the Council can help by providing litter picking equipment and will collect the bags of rubbish you collect.
“Contact the Street Cleansing team on 01543 462621 or email streetcleansing@cannockchasedc.gov.uk.”
Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, said: “In the past two years our outdoor spaces and places have mattered to us more than ever before as more people have embraced them during the pandemic – and with this we know local authorities like Cannock Chase Council have had an extra battle on their hands to keep them clean and green.
“During this year’s Great British Spring Clean, we are calling on everyone in Cannock Chase to harness the power of collective environmental action by taking on the #BigBagChallenge.
“Whether it’s pledging to pick just one bag, or more, we can all carry out small acts of kindness - for our planet and for ourselves.”
Pledge to get involved today at www.keepbritaintidy.org/gbspringclean and support Keep Britain Tidy on social media with the hashtag #GBSpringClean and #BigBagChallenge.
To find out more about the Great British Spring Clean and how the Council is supporting this initiative, visit www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/GBSpringClean (link no longer available)