Volunteers join forces to tackle litter across Winchester area
April 12, 2023
Volunteers from across the Winchester area are joining forces to tackle the problem of litter left strewn across roadsides, lanes, and public spaces.
Over ten villages in Winchester district now work in cooperation with The Litter Partnership, which was founded by Tom Bristowe several years ago after he moved to Upham and was shocked by the amount of litter by the roadside.
Supported by Winchester City Council’s street scene contractor, idverde, and countryside charity CPRE, the partnership also works with a growing number of other organisations, including the University of Winchester, Corhampton Golf Club, the Army Training Regiment, VolkerFitzpatrick, Southern Water and local scout groups.
Every week teams of volunteers collect dozens of bags of rubbish from across the area.
One group is even collecting cans across the district and trading in the metal to raise money for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.
Explaining how the partnership started, Tom (pictured left below) said: “After moving to the countryside, I was just astonished and shocked by the rubbish that people chucked out of their car windows and on to the sides of roads.
“Once you have your eye in, you can’t stop seeing the litter and you see it all the time everywhere.
“One Sunday morning I thought I would go out and start clearing it up and picked up a couple of bags of rubbish. It became quite addictive as it’s very satisfying.
“I litter-picked a few times and thought there was no way I could tackle the problem alone. So I thought I would try to encourage as many people as possible to help out, which is when The Litter Partnership was born.
“Apart from litter-picking regularly with a local group, my role is as a convener of people. I’ve found myself at the centre of an increasing large web of individuals who recognise the litter problem and want to do something about it. I help give them routes to do that.”
Tom is now looking at a long-term solution to the litter issue and is working with behaviour change experts with a view to launching a major social media campaign in South Hampshire.
For more information about The Litter Partnership visit thelitterpartnership.org or to get in touch via email hello@thelitterpartnership.org