Protect Nature, Boost Your Wellbeing and Get Active. Litter picking is a powerful way to care for your local environment, protect wildlife, and enhance your mental health — all while being active and connecting with your community.

It’s easy to get started. You can do it by yourself, or join up with a litter picking group or event, to meet other people and enjoy working together to keep your local environment tidy. If you join a group, or event litter grabbers, gloves and bags are generally provided.

Why litter pick?

Litter picking is a fantastic way to do something good for the local area where you live, whilst also boosting your own mental wellbeing.

• Protect wildlife and nature – by removing harmful waste from your environment you can protect animals and plants
• Boost your mental health -Spending time outdoors in nature has a positive impact on your mood and wellbeing, as does knowing you are doing something good for the environment!
• Get Active -Increase your step count whilst picking up litter
• Make Connections – Meet and chat to new like-minded people in your local area

How to get involved?

There are lots of existing litter picking groups in and around Lincolnshire. There are also organisations that arrange litter picking events throughout the year. Whether you want to join a regular weekly session, take part in events in your local area, or even start your own group up, you can give as much or as little time as you like. Check with your local authority if they know about any one off litter picking events taking place – look out for events happening during the Great British Spring Clean at the end of March.

Take a look at the local groups below to get involved or scroll down to see how to set up your own group.

Find a Local Group

The Wombles Community Charity community groups

The Wombles Community Charity supports litter picking groups across the country united by a shared goal of creating a greener, cleaner future, through community litter picking and raising environmental awareness. 

There are currently three groups Wombles groups here in Lincolnshire:

• The Wombles of Lincoln visit the facebook group
• Wyberton Wombles of Boston Common visit the facebook group
• Walesby Wombles – visit the facebook page

If there’s not a group, near you why not set up your own, and register it on the Wombles Community Portal.

The RiverCare and BeachCare programme

The RiverCare and BeachCare programme supports a network of volunteer groups who work to enhance their local waterways and coastal environments. The programme which is located within East Anglia, is managed by Keep Britain Tidy and funded by Anglian Water. 

Groups in Lincolnshire include:

• Sutton on Sea Beachcare – visit the facebook page
• Rivercare Lincoln Witham –visit the facebook page
• Rivercare Lincoln Paddlers – visit the facebook group
• River Slea Cleanup visit the Facebook group
• Rivercare Grantham – Visit the Facebook page
• Boston Rivercare – Visit the Facebook group
  
  

Start Your Own Litter Picking Group or Event

If you want to make a difference why not start your own litter picking group? Alternatively you could organise a one-off litter picking event for your community. Take a look at our top tips to get started.

• Choose a location – make sure you have permission to litter pick there.
• Gather you team – Find people to take part with you, or advertise locally
• Confirm where to dispose of the rubbish you collect. If you think your group will pick up a large amount of litter you could contact your local authority to arrange for them to collect it.
• Consider recycling – is it possible to separate glass, recyclable plastic and aluminum cans for recycling?
• Prepare your litter picking equipment (you will need plastic bags, litter grabbers, hoops (for holding the bags open) make litter picking a lot easier and gloves. Your local authority might be able to provide you with equipment. If you are litter picking near a road, a high visibility vest will help keep you safe. Sturdy shoes will protect your feet.
• Coordinate the date and time – decide what is happening if the weather if bad.
• Confirm the potential risks of the event – carry out a risk assessment and make sure people are aware of potential hazards.

More advice for starting to litter pick

Keep Britain Tidy have lots of advice and support for #LitterHeros on their website.