More than 600 people took part in this year’s Big Tidy Up all-Island challenge and collected a total of 1.6 tonnes of litter. Led by Douglas Borough Council and sponsored by Alliance and Leicester International the challenge, held on Friday September 30 and Saturday October 1, was supported by Castletown, Maughold and Patrick Commissioners, volunteer and youth groups, charitable organisations, the Isle of Man Army Cadet Force and schools from across the Island. His Worship the Mayor of Douglas, Councillor Ritchie McNicholl JP., together with Council Leader David Christian JP, Members and officers took part in the campaign, collecting litter from around the Borough. Councillor Christian said: ‘In the Borough of Douglas I was extremely impressed that there were so few litter hot spots, a clear sign that our year-round commitment to promoting the responsible disposal of domestic waste and the hard work of our cleansing teams are having a positive effect. However, despite our best efforts there will always be some regular “grot spots” and it was those areas which, in the main, volunteers targeted.’ Alliance and Leicester International’s community affairs manager George Campbell said: ‘A group of 10 of us from Alliance and Leicester International targeted Douglas beach as part of our stand against litter and support of the Big Tidy Up. We are proud to have made our contribution to the campaign and applaud the Council’s commitment to raising environmental awareness across the Island.’ Volunteers from Isle of Man Friends of the Earth, Zero Waste Mann and Manx Energy Advice Centre targeted the Well Road Hill area in Douglas, collecting five bags of litter. Isle of Man Friends of the Earth co-ordinator Phil Corlett said: ‘Douglas Borough Council - in particular the waste management officer - should get a “big pat on the back” for their continuing and expanding Big Tidy Up campaign.’ Councillor Christian continued: ‘The 2011 Big Tidy Up covered more areas than last year and has shown, once again, that people across the Isle of Man care about their local environment and are willing to work together to the benefit of their communities. I should like to thank everyone who gave of their time to support the campaign and I am especially encouraged by how many schools and youth groups got involved, which I believe sends out a strong message that young people understand the importance of active citizenship and are developing a sense of civic pride at an early age.’ Young people from the Isle of Man Youth service’s Cafe Laare in Lord Street, Douglas joined in the Big Tidy Up, clearing litter from the bus station and surrounding area. Youth worker Leanne Newbold said: ‘All too often young people receive negative press, but this was the second year Cafe Laare participated in the Big Tidy Up, with the young people from the cafe keen to show they’re committed to keeping the area clean and tidy.’ Students from all five houses of Ballakermeen High School, together with Councillor Sara Hackman, collected litter from around the school site. Head of Hillary House Louise Babb, who organised the school’s efforts, said: ‘Environmental awareness is an important part of education and this was a great opportunity for practical involvement.’ In St John’s Bunscoill Ghaelgagh took part. Head teacher Julie Matthews said: ‘This was the second year we participated in the Big Tidy Up, last year with an older class. This time we took a group of year two children out to clear the car park, disused railway line and park by the football field in St John’s, locations the pupils had identified when out picking blackberries recently. We had a safety briefing first and discussed recycling and reusing. We recycle at school so the Big Tidy Up backs up our message when we do this exercise as we separate the cans, glass and plastic bottles from the burnable rubbish. It’s also an opportunity to instill in the children not to discard rubbish anywhere, as it makes a mess of our beautiful island.’ Four bags of litter were collected by pupils of St Thomas’s School, Douglas. Head teacher Clare Baker explained: ‘St Thomas’s eco-club joined in the Big Tidy Up, along with Councillor Sara Hackman, and collected litter from the bridge over to the Manx Museum, the museum grounds, Crellins Hill and the back alleys of Windsor Road. The children were surprised to see how clean the museum grounds were but shocked by the amount of litter in the alleys and back streets. They were all very enthusiastic and are keen to take part in the Big Tidy Up again next year.’ At St Ninian’s High School 11 year 13 eco-committee students, together with head teacher Andrew Fox and two colleagues tidied Hutchinson Square then made their way towards Park Road School, tidying around the grounds of Waverley Court, then Bathurst Street, Grafton Street, Melbourne Street and Derby Road, collecting a total of six bags of litter. Environmental systems students from King William’s College collected litter from Castletown beach while pupils and parents of Foxdale School collected litter from the Sprucewood estate area and along the old railway line. The school’s head teacher Elizabeth Bankes-Jones said: ‘We have taken part in the Big Tidy Up for some years now. I believe it really helps in giving the children a sense of ownership and pride in their environment. There was a great sense of achievement in collecting the bags of rubbish and knowing that our beautiful village is now a cleaner place through which to walk and to enjoy.’ Children from Marown School took part, clearing litter from the school grounds and surrounding area. Head teacher Ian Longshaw said: ‘Kitted out in their Big Tidy Up tabards the children put on their rubber gloves and spent an hour collecting litter. Pupils have a really good understanding of the impact litter has on their local community and have been working hard to discourage people from littering. We also use the Big Tidy Up as an important teaching tool, helping to show pupils first-hand why it’s so important to take care of where they live. It’s fantastic that the children can get involved in the Big Tidy Up, as the local community is used to support school curriculum work. I hope that this sort of early awareness and education will inspire our pupils to continue to care for their surroundings in later life, too.’ A group of volunteers from Douglas Bay Rotary Club cleared the public footpath alongside the Nunnery Estate. Club president Lynda Crebbin said: ‘The path was reasonably clear so we also swept a section of footpath and cleared dead plants alongside the Middle River industrial estate. We will be taking part in the Big Tidy Up again next year…and looking hard for a very untidy spot.’ Castletown Commissioners supported the event with a group of 12 volunteers. Town Clerk Eddie Convery observed: ‘Not as much litter was collected as last year, which we take as a positive sign, demonstrating that our workforce and the Castletown public at large, are clearing up automatically. The campaign’s proved so successful we’ll be organising a summer clear up ourselves.’ Councillor Christian concluded: ‘Once again the Big Tidy Up has shown that people are prepared to make a stand against litter in their communities. However, while the campaign is a two-day event, litter is a year-round problem so it is to be hoped that people’s anti-litter stance will be strengthened, not diminished over the coming weeks and months.’ ENDS