Nature tidy up
Aim:
To clear up litter left behind.
You will need:
Bags for rubbish, gloves to protect your hands, strong shoes.
Duration:
Depends on the amount of rubbish!
Many people like to spend time outdoors in the countryside, enjoying the open space and the natural beauty. One problem is that some people do not respect the natural environment and leave litter behind. Nobody likes to find drinks cans, plastic bags, or any other kind of rubbish lying around.
As a group find a natural area that you think needs clearing up. You may need to contact the land owners to make sure they are happy for you to be there. Explain what you are doing, and how you want to improve the area for everyone.
Put on gloves to protect your hands. Pick up all the rubbish you find lying around. Be very careful with sharp items or broken glass - it is better to ask an adult to remove these. It may be better if younger children just pick up pieces of paper and plastic.
When you get back from the walk, look at the waste that you have. Can any of it be composted (e.g. apple cores) or recycled (e.g. drinks cans)?
You might also decide to do something to prevent rubbish being left behind in future. Perhaps you could put up a sign reminding people to take their rubbish home with them or ask if bins can be put in the area. You could contact your local radio station and ask them to put out a message asking people to respect the environment, and not drop litter.