A DEDICATED action group that has spent 10 years encouraging children to take pride in their community is getting ready for their big anniversary by organising a litter pick and fun day.

Brynithel Action Group (BAG) get the small town together three to four times a year to scour their streets and green areas of dropped litter.

Supported by Blaenau Gwent Council and Keep Wales Tidy, the group has found success in incentivising children and parents to get involved by offering free day trips to any little litter pickers.

BAG treasurer May Sweet explained the group first started litter picking in 2008 after some encouragement from Communities First, who wanted to set up a group in the area.

“We collected 90 bags on our first pick back in 2008,” said Mrs Sweet.

“The last one we did in May this year saw us collect enough rubbish to fill 19 bags. The time before that it was 41 bags.

“The first one was is a big one, then it’s just keeping on top of it. Every year the first of the year is always big, because it’s left through the winter.”

South Wales Argus:  

(Brynithel Action Group members (l-r) Terry Buffin, May Sweet, Graham Sweet, Leanne Jarvis, Kaila Willis, Julie Willis, Marianne Green)

BAG secretary Julie Willis explained they can usually rely on getting around 20 to 30 people on the picks, of which around 10 are local children.

“It makes a difference and people are responding to it,” said Ms Willis.

“We encourage people to get their kids involved by saying that every child who takes part in the litter picks we will take them on a day out. We’ve taken them to Barry Island and the Big Pit in the past.

“The age range in our litter picking groups is anything from three years old to adult, it’s just all ages really.

READ MORE: Newport pays £1.6million a year to clean up litter and fly tipping

“This year we’re putting on a fun day in September. The litter pickers will get free burgers to encourage the kids to get involved. It’s happening on September 8.”

As well as litter the group dedicate much of their time on other projects, like the annual Christmas tree celebration, which draws around 250 people, restoring an abandoned park at the top of Mount Pleasant Estate, Brynithel, and organising the annual Easter egg hunt for the village children.

The group are supported by Blaenau Gwent Council, who collect the rubbish from the litter picks, and Keep Wales Tidy, who step in to provide litter picking and safety equipment.

Mrs Sweets said: “We organise with the council to come and pick up the gas of litter from our picks.

South Wales Argus:  

(May Sweet and Marianne Green showing off their litter picking skills)

“We work a lot with Sally Morgan from Keep Wales Tidy, she’s be really supportive of our projects. “They’ve provided us with the bags, litter pickers and safety gear, and they’ve always supplied people and volunteers to help us with bigger jobs.

“It would have been a lot harder to get it organised without help from Keep Wales Tidy. It would have meant a lot of fund raising for litter picking equipment, which can be hard to organise.

“Now, because of their support, the fund raising that we actually do goes into our other projects, rather than on litter, which is good.”

But the group admits while the yare able to keep on top of the worst of the litter with their organised community picks, the work is never done.

READ MORE: Pontypool Park Friends chairman urges people to start picking up litter

“I think people are just lazy. Rather than put something in their pockets to throw away later they would rather just thrown it on the floor,” said Mrs Sweet.

“It is getting better around here but that’s because we’re doing more litter picks. The council have given us more litter bins too, we asked them for that.

“But really it’s getting somebody to take charge and say ‘we’re going to do something about this,’ and then getting the community engaged with it.

“That’s what has made a difference here.”

The group’s next litter pick is on August 4, with their fun day being help on September 8. Any children who take part in the litter pick will be able to get a free burger at the fun day.

GET IN TOUCH

Throughout our War on Litter campaign, we want to feature every litter picking hero and volunteer group that we can. As well as your stories, we want your pictures and videos too. If you would like to be featured, or if you want to send us some pictures of problem areas that deserve attention, get in touch by emailing sam.ferguson@gwent-wales.co.uk or joining our dedicated Facebook group – South Wales Argus: War on Litter.

PRACTICAL ADVICE

EVERY war needs its heroes.

This summer, the South Wales Argus will be bringing you stories from litter heroes from across Newport, Monmouthshire, Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly County Borough and Torfaen.

But YOU can make a difference too.

By making small changes, every single one of us can help tackle the plague of litter sweeping across Wales.

If you want to get involved in litter picking, or set up your own group, Keep Wales Tidy have this simple advice:

“Small actions can make a big difference. So, when you’re out and about, remember to dispose of your litter responsibly – either put it in the bins provided or take it home with you.

“A growing number of people go one step further and carry out a #2minutestreetclean, #2minutebeachclean or just make a point of picking up five items of litter like crisp packets, plastic drinks bottles or cans.

“Anyone looking to dedicate more time to caring for their neighbourhood can sign up to become a Litter Champion. Keep Wales Tidy will provide all the equipment needed to safely carry out more thorough clean-ups.

“Keep Wales Tidy has project officers in every local authority who support community groups to tackle all kinds of environmental improvement projects. They can help with one-off events or support new groups to get going.

“The charity also runs national clean-up campaigns two or three times a year. The next one to take place is the All Wales Beach Clean (14-30 September),which will also be targeting rivers and other watercourses across the country. All the details can be found on the Keep Wales Tidy website.”

You can get in touch with Keep wales Tidy at info@keepwalestidy.cymru or call 029 2025 6767

Get in touch with the South Wales Argus to tell us about your success stories to be featured in our campaign, to shout about trouble spots or to nominate a local hero.