Tom Marshall

General Secretary, Peak District National Park

20 million people live within one hour’s journey of the Peak District, and more than 50 million people live within four hours, making it one of the most visited National Parks in the country. peakdistrict.gov.uk

“We welcome around 14 million visitors each year, and even before the pandemic were conscious of the impact of litter, which was costing us £40,000 per year.

“Last year we started bringing in volunteers to hotspots where it was becoming a particular problem, and started what we termed ‘extreme litter picking’. That includes clearing up abandoned campsites, but also getting into caves, crags and rock edges where windblown litter like cans and crisp packets tend to get trapped. Now in those areas, despite the footfall, it’s incredibly tidy. We’re also looking at getting National Park Ambassadors, focused around being what we call Peak District Proud. For us, that means living those values of the Countryside Code on the ground.

“The best and most valuable thing anyone can do is bring an extra carrier bag and take home what you bring. And if any of those 14 million visitors choose to pick up a little bit of extra where it’s safe and appropriate, that’s great.”