Sir Gavin Williamson joined Keep Britain Tidy in Parliament to voice his support for The Great British Spring Clean.
Sir Gavin attended the parliamentary launch of the 9th Great British Spring Clean, an initiative running from 15th to 31st March which encourages participants to get involved in litter-picking. It is organised by Keep Britain Tidy, which was founded in 1954 by the Women’s Institute. To mark its 70th anniversary, the charity is encouraging participants to make a platinum pledge, by picking up 70 items, filling 70 bags or spending 70 minutes litter-picking outdoors.
In previous years, the initiative has seen enormous success, with 400,000 bags of litter collected last year alone. 96% of participants agreed that they felt they had made a difference to their local area, while 84% agreed that they felt inspired to do more to protect the environment.
Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, said: “We are so grateful for the ongoing support from Sir Gavin and his constituents. The Great British Spring Clean is a fantastic way for people to really show their pride in where they live and connect with like-minded neighbours, while taking serious and immediate action to protect the environment on their doorstep.
During this year’s campaign, we are highlighting that the environment belongs to everyone, and that everyone is welcome to join in with our activities and 70th anniversary celebrations. Whether it’s a pledge to pick one bad – or 70 for our anniversary – these acts of kindness will make the country a cleaner, safer place for future generations.”
Sir Gavin said: “The Great British Spring Clean is a fantastic initiative, which brings together individuals, community organisations and schools to make a positive difference in their local area. We in Staffordshire are lucky to have access to such wonderful countryside right on our doorstep. This is why I’m encouraging as many as possible to get involved in the Great British Spring Clean and to take care of our green spaces.”
