Live Here Love Here, Northern Ireland’s community and civic-pride campaign, has announced the return of the BIG Spring Clean in partnership with sponsor Belfast Harbour.

The annual event is now Northern Ireland’s largest community clean-up and gathers tens of thousands of volunteers to either take part in scheduled litter-lifting events across the country, organise their own clean-up or signal their support for the campaign by adding a signature to the Live Here Love Here website.

 This year’s BIG Spring Clean, which runs from 01 March until 30 April, already has over 20 events lined up in locations around Northern Ireland with events already scheduled at Strangford Lough Activity Centre on 11 March, Anchor Park, Portavogie on 25 March and at Ballyhalbert on 22 April.

Most of the clean-ups focus on tackling the long-standing litter problem in Northern Ireland, which results in waste materials polluting our waterways and beaches, before making their way into the sea.  

Recent survey findings released by the campaign’s parent organisation Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful in their Marine Litter Report showed that, on average, 762 items of litter were found per 100 metres of beach surveyed, up from 375 items the previous year.

Helen Tomb, Manager at Live Here Love Here said, “Last year we had over 40,000 people take to the outdoors to do their bit for the environment and many of them continued to look after their local areas throughout the rest of the year.”
“We encourage even more people to get involved again this year, from families and friend groups, to school groups, community groups and local businesses. You can find inspiration and tips for organising your own clean-up on our website – and it can be great fun and really rewarding. Not least because, with a little time and effort, many of our shared spaces can become nicer places for the community to enjoy.”

The campaign is sponsored by Belfast Harbour for the second year running, with additional support provided by RES Group for the first time. Participants who organise their own litter-pick can apply for a free clean-up kit through the Adopt A Spot programme by visiting the Live Here Love Here website. Larger groups can also borrow litter-picking equipment for their clean-up by contacting the team at Live Here Love Here. 

Find out how to get involved with the BIG Spring Clean at www.liveherelovehere.org/bigspringclean.