This year 344 people signed up to become Spring Pickers! This included schools, local businesses, rambling groups and local people; which really highlights the strong community involvement we have across Essex. 

This year an estimated 17,200 pieces of litter were removed from across the county in just 10 days, with many participants going above and beyond the daily target. 

Spring Pickers is Essex Wildlife Trust's annual litter picking campaign, which encourages people of Essex to pick up 5 pieces of litter every day for 10 days in the run up to spring.

Litter and plastic pollution have serious consequences for our local wildlife. Animals can become entangled in or injured by discarded litter and can also be mistaken for food which can be fatal.

While Spring Pickers has come to an end for this year, there are still opportunities to get involved. Picking up a litter picker and taking action in your local area is a simple way to help protect your local green spaces throughout the year.

Sophie Burton, Marketing Officer for Essex Wildlife Trust, says:

"Looking after nature starts with simple, local actions such as litter picking. It is an easy way to make a difference and the impact is immediate. Its incredibly inspiring to see so many people getting involved this year, particularly the number of schools of all ages taking part. Passing on an understanding and care for the natural world to the younger generations is so important. So a massive thank you to everyone who took part! This is what we collectively have achieved in just 10 days, imagine what could be possible if everyone took action across the county every day."