Stop The Drop Campaign
CPRE’s Stop the Drop campaign tackles the litter and fly-tipping problem that is despoiling our beautiful countryside. It’s headed by CPRE president and author Bill Bryson, a passionate anti-litter campaigner and champion of the countryside.
At a local level, supporters of the campaign can get involved by organising their own litter pick or joining a local litter volunteer group through litteraction.org.uk. Supporters can pledge to Stop the Drop, joining CPRE in lobbying local authorities, government and other bodies legally responsible for keeping land litter-free. Through these various campaigning actions CPRE aim to demonstrate to Government and other authorities the strength of support behind Stop the Drop.
Read more about the campaign here, including notes from CPRE President Bill Bryson
What is this?
This picture of minute plastic pieces was taken from one of Litteraction's registered groups in North West England called Beach Care. Beach Care are the volunteer arm of the Morecambe Bay Partnership, an independent charity dedicated to improving the environment and quality of life in Cumbria and North Lancashire.
Since July 2003, over 3000 people have taken part in 156 clean up events, mainly, but not exclusively, beach cleans. So far the group have removed 25 tonnes of waste from local beaches and recycled around 4000 items.
Recently the group held one of the North of England's largest clear up operations when 120 volunteers crossed potentially treacherous sands at low tide to pick up litter on Piel Island. The walk took around 40 minutes to cross the 1.5 miles to Piel and was done under the watchful eye of a local guide and historian. It is important to never attempt this walk without the knowledge of a local guide. Throughout the day the group were assisted by the King of Piel who carried material over on his tractor and helped remove the half a tonne of litter that was collected throughout the day as well as providing a barbeque for all of the volunteers.
Piel Island is a haven for wildlife, this is recognised through its designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and this is why litter picks such as this are so valuable. Plastic litter is particularly damaging, it impacts marine and bird life through entanglement and ingestion. Almost all of the litter from the picture above has ended there after being flushed down the toilet.
If you have any interesting pictures or stories from your clean up events then email them to us at litteraction@gmail.com.