Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
Volunteers collect 20 bags of litter at Worcester Woods to help protect animals
Twenty-five volunteers sprang into action on Tuesday 25 March at Worcester Woods Country Park and collected 20 bags full of rubbish in just two hours.
The group were made up of volunteers from RSPCA Worcester and Mid-Worcestershire Branch and also a number of volunteers from Worcester Bosch who kindly joined in with the special litter picking event.
RSPCA’s anti-litter campaign manager Carrie Stones said: “We’d like to thank everyone for getting involved in this litter pick - we had a fantastic turn out and to collect 20 bags of litter was a credit to everyone’s hard work.
“We found lots of odd socks strangely, soggy shoes, Nerf bullets, a range of plastic items like bottles and food packaging, cans, and two parts of a polystyrene toy airplane.
“The area looked clean at a first glance but much of the litter had blown into the hedgerows and woodland, so it was a great job all round to collect what we did.
“In addition it was a fantastic demonstration of successful partnership working for wildlife.”
Pamela Booker from RSPCA Worcester and Mid-Worcestershire Branch said: “Our team enjoyed the day and meeting up with like-minded people. It would be lovely to do this again in the future.”
Carl Arntzen, CEO of Worcester Bosch commented: “Sustainability is a key pillar in our strategy, and we are striving to act responsibly in all our operations. We litter pick around our business, so it was a wonderful opportunity to extend our reach.
The group were made up of volunteers from RSPCA Worcester and Mid-Worcestershire Branch and also a number of volunteers from Worcester Bosch who kindly joined in with the special litter picking event.
RSPCA’s anti-litter campaign manager Carrie Stones said: “We’d like to thank everyone for getting involved in this litter pick - we had a fantastic turn out and to collect 20 bags of litter was a credit to everyone’s hard work.
“We found lots of odd socks strangely, soggy shoes, Nerf bullets, a range of plastic items like bottles and food packaging, cans, and two parts of a polystyrene toy airplane.
“The area looked clean at a first glance but much of the litter had blown into the hedgerows and woodland, so it was a great job all round to collect what we did.
“In addition it was a fantastic demonstration of successful partnership working for wildlife.”
Pamela Booker from RSPCA Worcester and Mid-Worcestershire Branch said: “Our team enjoyed the day and meeting up with like-minded people. It would be lovely to do this again in the future.”
Carl Arntzen, CEO of Worcester Bosch commented: “Sustainability is a key pillar in our strategy, and we are striving to act responsibly in all our operations. We litter pick around our business, so it was a wonderful opportunity to extend our reach.
“Also, as a team of people with a long history in Worcester, we love to give back to our community and our business offers every colleague the opportunity to use a working day to help a charity. What was so heartwarming about this activity was that they went above and beyond the normal volunteering day, as they generously gave up their lunch breaks to take part.”
Keep Britain Tidy’s ‘Great British Spring Clean’ continues until 6 April and calls on everyone to do their bit to help protect our wildlife and pets from litter.
Last week the RSPCA released data revealing that it received a shocking 2,199 reports about animals affected by litter last year across England and Wales - 20 of these were in Worcestershire.
There were more reports about foxes (160), deer (48) and hedgehogs (31) impacted by litter than any other mammals in 2024. Amongst wild birds, reports about pigeons came top (516), followed by swans (445) and gulls (383).
Carrie added: “It’s distressing to see how our native wildlife is being affected by litter, and we urge everyone to join the Great British Spring Clean litter pick to help protect animals.
“Our rescuers deal with so many avoidable incidents every year where animals have been impacted by litter.
“Old drinks cans and bottles, plastic items and even disposable vapes are just some of the items that pose a danger to our wildlife - including, more than any other mammals, foxes, deer and hedgehogs. Animals can ingest the litter or become entangled, leading to injuries, mutilations and even death.
“Sadly, for every animal we’re able to help there are probably many others that go unseen, unreported and some of our fellow living creatures may even be losing their lives.
“But the public can help us protect animals, and avoid these incidents happening in the first place.”
To get help for a small sick or injured animal as quickly as possible, the RSPCA’s advice is to take it to a vet. There is more information online. Every time a wild animal is helped by the public it frees up our vital specialist rescuers to reach animals suffering heartbreaking cruelty and neglect, a job no other charity does.
There are also lots of ways you can help the RSPCA’s Worcester and Mid Worcestershire Branch - which runs the The Holdings Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre to continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals.