More than 700 bags of litter have been collected across Leicester as part of this year’s Great British Spring Clean, organisers have confirmed.
The annual campaign, led by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, ran from 13 to 29 March and brought together council teams and local volunteers to tackle litter in parks, neighbourhoods and waterways across the city.
Picture credit: Leicester City Council
During 13 organised clean-up sessions, the Leicester Environmental Volunteers collected a total of 744 bags of litter, alongside 928 bulky discarded items, significantly improving the condition of public spaces.
Additional efforts from Leicester City Council staff, including city wardens and other services, helped extend the clean-up’s reach, with teams hosting their own litter-picking sessions throughout the two-week initiative.
Mollie Page, the council’s environmental engagement manager, praised the joint effort. She said the campaign had been “a fantastic collaborative effort” involving council staff and volunteers, with support from parks teams, rangers, wardens and senior managers. Some participants also joined a session aboard the council’s adapted Kingfisher litter-picking boat.
The campaign has also sparked ongoing community action, with a new weekly litter pick launched in the St Matthews area. Held every Tuesday morning from 9.30am to 12pm, the sessions meet outside St Matthews Library on Malabar Road and are open to residents who wish to take part.
The first session brought together council housing staff, city wardens, an eco-schools team, the South Leicestershire Litter Wombles and local councillor Aqbany. In a single street, the group collected 30 bags of litter while engaging with residents about maintaining cleaner neighbourhoods.
Deputy city mayor Elly Cutkelvin, who oversees waste and recycling, commended the efforts of those involved. She highlighted both the scale of the achievement and the importance of responsible waste disposal, noting that maintaining clean and safe communal areas remains a priority for the council.
She also pointed to the council’s continued investment in environmental upkeep, including more than £1 million annually for its estate wardens service, which works across housing estates to remove rubbish, tackle fly-tipping and maintain public spaces.
Residents interested in joining future clean-up efforts can attend the weekly St Matthews sessions or find further information through the council’s volunteering services.
