Bradley Stoke Litter Pickers was started by Amy Ashton, a resident of Bradley Stoke who wanted to do litter picking to make a difference in her neighborhood. South Gloucester Council provided the refuse bags, the picker uppers and gloves and Amy set up a Facebook group to see who wanted to join her.
On the second Sunday of each month, a motley crew of volunteers respond to Amy’s rallying cry and meet up at various locations around Bradley Stoke where the most litter has been seen.
The Women’s Institute is represented, as is Bradley Stoke Town Council, Bradley Stoke Lions are there. While others, like Amy, are residents who wish to make Bradley Stoke a nicer, cleaner place to live. Everybody involved wants the same thing: to live in a clean, pleasant town of which they can be proud.
In April, McDonalds sponsored the litter pick and offered all the volunteers a free lunch. The local Scout Group was there, as were the Bradley Stoke Lions and volunteers from all walks of life turned up to do their bit. The youngsters love to get involved. In total, 29 bags and a trolley full of rubbish were collected that day, a successful clean up – but sad that it needed doing at all.
The next McDonalds litter pick in Bradley Stoke will be on September 21. All welcome.