Local volunteers, school and college pupils and council officers all worked hard at a clean-up event in the Darran Valley recently, to help launch a Keep Wales Tidy campaign.
The team did their bit to improve the environment along the Darran Valley cycle track as part of the Keep Wales Tidy Valleys Spring Clean campaign.
A variety of clean up activities took place throughout the day including litter picking, dog fouling awareness raising and enforcement, fly-tipping removal, street cleansing, chewing gum removal and native flower planting.
In total, more than a tonne of litter was cleared from the route, and hundreds of native flowers were planted to help make this important tourist area even more attractive.
Cllr Lyn Ackerman, cabinet member for the environment said, “I am so pleased that so many people came along to get involved in this clean up day. We want people to be proud of the environment in which they live, and by taking part in clear up operations such as this, we can work to make our county borough an even cleaner and greener place to live, work and visit.”
Welsh actor Boyd Clack, who has starred in numerous shows including Satellite City, and his writing partner Kirsten Jones, also came along to show their support for the event and the Keep Wales Tidy Valleys Spring Clean campaign.
Boyd said, “Our Valleys are blessed with beautiful countryside – be proud of your area and please look after the environment. Thanks to all those who have done their bit this week to help make our area an even more pleasant place.”
Offenders from the Wales Probation Trust who are taking part in Community Payback as part of their punishment also came along to the event in their high visibility orange jackets to help take part in the clean up day, as did volunteers from Sustrans, the UK’s leading sustainable transport charity.
John Bell, Project Officer for Keep Wales Tidy said ‘The green spaces around our towns are important areas for the local community to enjoy, we are hoping that by working together with local volunteers and the council that we can make the area cleaner, safer and a more pleasant environment for everybody to enjoy.’
To report environmental concerns such as litter, dog fouling and fly-tipping, call Caerphilly County Borough Council’s StreetPride hotline on 01443 866566 or visit the StreetPride website.
