Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority Supports the Summer Clean

After a coordinated push on litter during April saw staff from the National Park Authority, local authorities and communities make a head start on the issue ahead of the busiest visitor months. A staggering 1203 bags of rubbish have been collected within Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park during this month.

Communities, businesses and individuals have also been keen to get involved and help protect the Park. Fortnightly volunteer clean ups will start in May and communities are organising their own initiatives to help tackle the issue.

Heading into the Bank Holiday weekend, the National Park Authority is now calling on visitors to play their part.

Simon Jones, Director of Environment and Visitor Services at Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority said: “We have dedicated staff time right through April to help clean the National Park up before the influx of visitors we are expecting this summer. We’ve seen a big difference already with visible improvements on the A82 in particular. Despite this effort from our staff, partners and local businesses and communities, there is more to be done, so we are calling on everyone to take responsibility for respecting and protecting this special place.

“As well as being a serious threat to the National Park’s wildlife, litter impacts local communities and affects visitors’ enjoyment while they are here.  Coming out of lockdown, the benefits that people get from spending time in nature are more important than ever.

“We have significantly increased our resources on the ground for this season, with additional bins, toilets and staff to help tackle the issues we saw last year. 

“But dedicating more and more resources to clearing litter up isn’t sustainable, or the answer long term. We have laid the groundwork with a big push on tackling litter but we want our Rangers to be on the ground helping people, not picking up after them. 

“By bagging up their litter and taking it home if bins are full, visitors can play their part by leaving no trace of their visit.”

As part of their support for the Summer Clean the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority are handing out free litter pickers to the first 50 people living in the National Park who pledge 300 minutes (5 hours) or more to our Summer Clean. To be in with a chance of getting a litter picker all you need to do is:

1. Go onto our Summer Clean webpage and pledge support as an individual or a group before midnight on the 16^th May (https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/community-and-place/clean-up-scotland/summer-clean-2021/)

2. Make sure you add “LLTNPA” to the name box (alongside your own name)

3. Add your postcode – please note this needs to be an address within the National Park boundary to make you eligible.

4. Pledge a minimum of 300 minutes (feel free to pledge more!)

5. If you are one of the first 50 eligible pledges, you will receive an email after May 17^th with information on how to collect your litter picker. There will be only one litter picker allocated to each eligible pledge, even if it is a group pledge.

6. Arrange to pick up the litter picker from the National Park’s offices in Balloch. You will need to do this before the end of June, otherwise the stick will be re-allocated.

7. Get litter picking and make sure you tag us in any posts - @KSBScotland @lomondtrossachs

Find more information about our Summer Clean and how to get involved here.