8 TIPS TO HELP KEEP GREEN SPACES CLEAN

1 TAKE YOUR RUBBISH HOME

On a visit to the countryside, always take your rubbish home with you. It may sound obvious, but it is surprising how many people don’t.

2 REDUCE YOUR PACKAGING

Ensure your picnics use the least amount of packaging. Bring sandwiches in reusable containers rather than cling film, use a refillable bottle and avoid products in plastic.

3 PICK UP RUBBISH YOU FIND

If you see a discarded crisp packet, can, bottle or any litter when out and about, pick it up. Keep a bag and protective gloves in your rucksack for litter-picking emergencies.

4 SPREAD THE WORD

Tell others what you do and encourage them to respect the countryside. Post on your social media feeds about litter-picks you’ve done, and share recycling information.

5 TALK TO FASTFOOD CHAINS

Approach your local fast-food drive-through and ask them to litter-pick local lay-bys and roads. Much of the litter found in the countryside is fast-food packaging, thrown from car windows.

6 ORGANISE YOUR OWN LITTER PICK

Organise your own litter pick in your local area and ask your neighbours and friends to get involved, too. It’s a great activity that can help to build community pride, and sets a good example for children.

7 JOIN IN NEAR YOU

Join CPRE’s Green Clean to litter pick in your local area. Launched last year, Green Clean runs for the month of September and involves local groups collecting rubbish in the countryside.

8 SUPPORT NATIONAL SCHEMES

Support CPRE and other litter organisations, such as Keep Britain Tidy. They campaign for proven solutions, such as the deposit-return system for drinks cans and bottles.