WI members clean up seven miles of lanes

Seven miles worth of local country lanes have been tidied up by a group of Women’s Institute members as part of a national clampdown on litter. 

Local communities have come out in force over the past two weeks to join in with the national Spring Clean Cymru campaign to help keep our beautiful outdoor spaces clean and tidy.

Spring Clean Cymru was part of the Great British Spring Clean delivered across the UK in collaboration with Keep Britain Tidy, Keep Scotland Beautiful and Keep Wales Tidy.

Amongst the many clean-up activities that have taken place across the county, the members of Long Mountain WI borrowed the litter picking kit from Welshpool library and covered seven miles of local country lanes collecting litter on the way. 

Town and community councillors and council staff joined forces to help give Newtown a spring clean (pictured). In just two hours the busy group picked up 12 bags of rubbish and eight bags of recyclable material from Llanidloes Road, Vaynor and Trehafren. Meanwhile, a group of eager volunteers cleaned-up Rhayader and the 1st Brecon Scout Group spent a productive couple of hours clearing up their local area.

“It has been heartening to see all the clean-up activity across the county over the past few weeks.” says Cllr Heulwen Hulme, Cabinet Member for Recycling and Waste.

“The past 18 months has made many of us really appreciate how important a clean and safe outdoor environment is for our health and well-being. But since lockdown restrictions have eased, there has been a real sense of frustration at the increase in litter, much of which could easily have been recycled.”