Litter pickers pick up a prize

Sprowston Litter Pickers are among the winners of Broadland District Council’s Big Litter Pick – with a £200 prize to thank them for their efforts.

Between April and June, more than 500 volunteers across the district collected 321 bags of rubbish and recycling weighing more than two tonnes.

The council provided advice and the equipment needed for the litter picks and collected up the bags of rubbish and recycling afterwards.

The Sprowston group is organised by Geraldine and Tony Waring, and Geraldine said all the pickers were delighted with their success.

“It’s great to have the work of all our volunteers recognised,” she said . “We’ve been running for about 18 months now and we’re beginning to see the difference our efforts are making.

“We hope we can use the money to highlight the importance of disposing of litter in an appropriate way.”

One of the regular pickers, Louise, has recently had a little boy, Logan, and Geraldine said they all hoped he would not be needed to pick litter when he’s old enough.

“I have said I’ve been looking for toddler-sized litter pickers on Amazon, but our ideal and hope is to get together, walk through the woods for two hours and not find any litter because nobody has dropped any,” she said.

Old Catton Parish Council, 2nd Old Catton Guides, 1st Old Catton Guides and Old Catton Rangers were also among the 20 groups selected as the £200 winners.