West Monkton Support Somerset Wildlife Trust in The #BigTauntonLitterPick.

Beavers, Cubs and Scouts from West Monkton, joined forces to support the Somerset Wildlife Trust and Somerset West and Taunton Council in The #BigTauntonLitterPick.

The ambition for this project is to work together with local businesses, community groups, schools and residents to get out and clean up the town for the benefit of all. Other groups taking part are Taunton Canoe Club, Somerset County Council, DWP, Lloyd & Whyte, Viridor, Richard Huish College, Blackbrook Primary School, Taunton Vale Healthcare, Stantec, West Monkton Parish Council, Green Days Day Care, Claims Consortium, DWP and West Hatch Beavers.

Over the course of the week, Somerset Wildlife Trust had around 415 people take part and over 149 bags of rubbish have been removed from our streets and green spaces. Littering has a major impact on wildlife and the RSPCA receive on average 14 calls a day about animals affected by litter and it’s estimated that the actual figure is much higher.  Globally around 80% of the plastic in our oceans comes from land-based sources and research by the Canal and River Trust shows that in the UK 1,562 items of plastic (bottles, food wrappers, bags etc.) leave our canals and rivers and head to the sea every single day. That’s more than 500,000 items each year. It just goes to show how important it is that we try to tackle this issue.

In a world with no shortage of challenges, this activity helps prepare young people to engage with and contribute to society in meaningful ways. By working towards their world challenge award, this helps them to join the movement in the fight for a better world. Working together we can make a real impact, in our communities and around the globe.