Hundreds of bags of waste collected during Newark and Sherwood District Council's Great British Spring Clean

More than 200 bags of waste were collected by volunteers who took part in the two-week Great British Spring Clean.

The campaign took place from March 17 to April 2 and was considered a success in Newark and Sherwood.

197 volunteers participated in the green activities hosted by Newark and Sherwood District Council, which provided the equipment needed and collected the waste bags.

The campaign encouraged people to spring clean and pick up litter on streets, beauty-spots and green spaces to protect their communities and wildlife habitats.

Litter picking events were organised all over the district, by groups including staff at NSK Newark, Newark Community Gardeners, Historic Newark in Bloom, Collingham Parish Council, Lowdham Community, Sherwood Forest Trust, RSPB, Green Southwell, Friends of Sconce and Devon Park and Friends of Balderton.

In total the hard-working volunteers collected 244 bags of litter.

Andrew Kirk, business manager for environmental services at the council, said: “I’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone who got involved in this year’s Great British Spring Clean.

“Seeing everyone, from community groups to schools and councils, come together to tidy up our local area was a fantastic example of what we can achieve when we work together to create a cleaner, safer, greener Newark and Sherwood.

“Spending your free time organising the events and going out to clean our communities of waste left by those who continue to blight our district, is no small task, and I commend all those who got out there and made a difference. I look forward to seeing what we can achieve together next year.”

The council’s activities in the district also included a public survey at Sconce and Devon park to discuss plans for a castle-themed playground and a fitness zone, the delivery of over 60 oak saplings to parish and town councils, and tree planting events held in Southwell and Newark.

Additionally a day of action was held in Balderton, to make the area cleaner, safer and greener, which resulted in 6.76 tonnes of waste being cleared from the area, 44 streets being deep cleaned, and the removal of eight fly tips.

The community garden at Newark library was also officially opened for groups and schools to hire.