If you haven’t already, now’s the time to get your clean on. We recently blogged about a very exciting event taking place during the first weekend in March – ‘Clean for the Queen’, it has since come around fast and it’s not long now until lots of people across the country will spruce up the Kingdom!
The big clean-up has been organised for next weekend by Keep Britain Tidy. Over one million people are expected to take part and clean up their neighbourhoods in time for the Queen’s birthday on the 21st April and her official birthday in June.
There will be events taking place on the 4th, 5th and 6th of March. But if you can’t get out to do your bit, there will be plenty more opportunities to take part running up to the Queen’s birthday in April. So, it’s time to get on your coats, get your rubbish bags and litter pickers ready and take to the streets.
Big Names have pledged their support and will be taking part.
Over the last month big names have been pledging their support for the government backed campaign including Kirsty Allsopp and The Wombles. Even Prime Minister David Cameron and London Mayor Boris Johnson have put their EU differences aside to clean for their Queen.
High street names like John Lewis, M&S, Costa, McDonalds and Greggs have also said they will support Clean for the Queen and do their part. But its community groups and the likes of the Brownies, Guides, Scouts and Cubs who will make the real difference this weekend.
Dirty Dozen ‘Grot Spots’
As part of the campaign Clean for the Queen asked the public to send pictures of local so called ‘Grot Spots’ which could do with some much needed TLC. From hundreds of locations nominated by the public, a dozen places have been awarded the no so prestigious title of ‘Grot Spot’ by Clean for the Queen. Whilst it’s not the award communities will want, it has helped to identify some of the dirtiest and environmentally unfriendly places across the UK.
Most of the areas named below are notorious for fly-tipping, and as they are already looking like a land fill site people don’t think twice before adding their rubbish to the heap. The ‘Clean for the Queen’ spirit is hoped to ignite a cleaning frenzy for these areas, inspiring those who live in the surrounding area to maintain it after the big clean up – and also to put the litter louts from offending.
The ‘Grot Spots’ will also receive a professional clean by a team from Karcher and The Helping Hand Company.
The ‘Grot Spots’ are as follows (see if you can spot one in your area):
- Arthurs hill and the Wingrove Terraces, Newcastle
- Mill Lane, Dronfield, Derbyshire
- Tickencote lay-by, Rutland
- Canal Bank, Northbrook Street, Birmingham
- Copdock Interchange, southern outskirts of Ipswich A14 – A15
- Lane off Clive Street, Cardiff
- ‘Black Swamp’ in Monkton Park, River Avon, Chippenham
- Queen Caroline’s Drawdock, Hammersmith Bridge, West London
- Church Lane, Tooting, South London
- South Road, Erith
- Grays Beach, Thurrock
- Kemp Town seafront, Brighton
So far 524 bags of rubbish have been collected, 6338 volunteers have registered and 2085 events have been scheduled. These figures just keep on rising too, so by the weekend who knows how many people will have pledged their support!
Who will benefit?
Many people are not so keen on the idea of cleaning for the Queen suggesting that they would rather do it for the people of the UK. Well, that’s ok but if you don’t take this opportunity when will you arrange to go litter picking – it’s not something we all do every other weekend. And everyone will benefit from walkers and children to wildlife and marine life.
A recent survey found that 90% of participants thought litter was a big issue, with 81% saying that seeing litter makes them angry and frustrated. The Clean for the Queen campaign is as good a time as any to combat the litter blight.
Want to take part?
Then it’s not too late! You can still register here or you can find local litter picking events which are going on in your local community.
And you can still grab you free Clean for the Queen litter bags at selected Waitrose stores, Costa Coffee stores and participating local authorities.
A note about collection of rubbish after your event…
Clean for the Queen have advised that many councils will be happy to collect your bags of rubbish, whilst others will allow you to dispose of it at your local Household Waste Disposal Centre. It’s best to contact your local authority before your event to check how to dispose of the litter you collect. Remember if you can separate general waste from recyclable materials that will be even better for the environment!
If you take part in Clean for the Queen we’d love to see your before and after pictures!