Volunteers wanted for this weekend's Great British Spring Clean

The annual initiative invites volunteers to join others in their local community for an organised clean-up.

About 20 events are being held across Portsmouth, Fareham, Gosport and Havant over the next few days.

Jeanette Perry, from Gosport, has been organising litter-pick events in the town for about three years, and will be helping to run an event in Walpole Park this Sunday.

She said: ‘We are trying to get as many people as possible to come out. People in our parks are often guilty of dropping litter and dog walkers can be a problem too.

‘People complain the rubbish in our town centres, but unless you want council taxes going up this is what you have to do.

‘We have all ages coming as well, from toddlers to those in their eighties. It’s a nice social event and you can get to know your neighbours.’

Residents wanting to join Sunday’s event should meet by the creek shoreline near Haslar car park at 11am.

To help those volunteering this weekend, we’ve come up with some key tips to help your litter-picking so smoothly.

Speaking about the initiative, Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage said: ‘The Great British Spring Clean is a fantastic event that really encourages residents to make a positive difference to their local communities.

‘Litter is an unsightly and potentially dangerous addition to our streets, parks and beaches, and I am glad to lend my support to such an important initiative.

‘I am thrilled to see Gosport residents taking a pro-active approach to litter, and I am sure people will get behind the campaign and help to improve our public spaces for everyone.’

There are hopes that more than half a million people nationwide will get out and about cleaning up their communities.

Fareham Borough Council are holding a clean-up at Stubbington Green today, with local businesses, schools and groups taking part.

The main work includes re-planting shrub beds, litter picking, sweeping gullies, painting street furniture and sowing wild flowers.

Councillor Tiffany Harper, executive member for Streetscene on Fareham Borough Council, said: The Great British Spring Clean is about everyone working together to clean up litter and give their local area a tidy up.

‘We’re delighted to be taking part and bringing people together to tackle an issue that many people care passionately about.’

The Great British Spring Clean was started in 2015, and last year 250,000 people joined in nationwide.

You can find out more information about the Great British Spring Clean here.

Here is your guide to our local Great British Spring Clean events this weekend. If you’re holding an event we’ve missed, email us at [email protected] or call 02392 622114.

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Saturday

Southsea beach - 10am-12pm

Portchester (meeting at bottom of Grove Ave) - 10am

Stokes Bay (Meeting at Splashpool)- 10am-12pm

Horndean Parish - 10am-12pm

Crofton Lions, Fareham (meeting outside Stubbington Library) - 1pm-3pm

Peel Common Clean up, Gosport (outside Carisbrooke Arms) - 11am-12pm

Sunday

Walpole Park, Gosport (Meeting by the creek shoreline near Haslar Car Park) - 11am

Holbrook, Gosport (outside Sailmaker Pub) - 1pm

Hermitage Stream Spring Clean, Havant - 10am-12pm

Cobden Park, Portsmouth - 9am-3pm

Knowle, Fareham (Meet at the village hall) - 12pm-3pm

Wallington Village Clean Up, Fareham - 10am-2pm

Milton Glass (Ladybridge/London Road) in Purbrook/Widley (meet by car park) - 8.20am

Monday

Wecock Farm Spring Clean (meet outside Acorn Centre in Wecock Farm) - 10am-12.30pm