Big Spring Clean

Big Spring Clean is our annual community litter picking campaign and this year's event takes place between Monday 12 February February and Monday 15 April.

Join us for an open day 

Could you spare a couple of hours to join in a litter pick in your local area? Come along to one of our open days, speak to one of the team and find out more:

• Wednesday 6 March - Council Offices, Green Lane, Spennymoor
• Wednesday 20 March - Barnard Castle Library
• Wednesday 27 March - Byron Shopping Centre, Seaham
• Wednesday 3 April - Durham Town Hall
• Wednesday 10 April - Bishop Auckland Town Hall.

All events are 10.00am to 12 noon. 

Join a litter pick

Join us for a litter pick during the Big Spring Clean:

Join us for a litter pick during the Big Spring Clean (10.00am - 12.00pm):

• Monday 25 March - Cong Burn Woods Nature Reserve - meeting at Shelley Gardens entrance, Chester Le Street.
• Wednesday 3 April - Hart to Haswell Railway path, meeting near Shotton Community Hub
• Thursday 4 April - Hart to Haswell Railway path, meeting at Wellfield Road entrance, Wingate.
• Thursday 11 April - Bishop Auckland Railway Path, meeting at Meadowfield Leisure Centre. 

Join ourselves and Seascapes, for a litter pick (1.30pm - 3.30pm)

• Friday 22 March - Meeting at allotments near Blackhall Colliery, TS27 4AT

Join in on social media and share pictures of your litter picks with us: #CleanerDurham2024

Last year's campaign 

• We gave out 1,540 pieces of litter picking equipment and over 250 litter picking events took place across the county.
• Six open days took place in areas where we have traditionally seen low engagement including Chester-le-Street, Stanhope and Consett.
• We had face-to-face conversations with over 100 community volunteers and 1,559 primary school children. 

Organise your own litter pick outside the campaign

We support individuals, organisations and community groups who would like to organise their own litter picks throughout the year. For further information on how to book the loan of equipment and the guidelines on how to lead your own litter pick safely, please contact us.

Help keep your area tidy

• Always put litter in a bin.
• Recycle where possible.
• Do not throw litter from cars/vehicles as this affects our roads, countryside and natural habitats for wildlife.
• Encourage children, friends and family to put their litter in a bin or take their rubbish home with them.
• Remember; dropping litter is an offence and is enforced by a fine of up to £150. Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN).

Report litter

Litter not only blights the environment and makes areas look untidy; it also affects natural habitats and wildlife. Big Spring Clean encourages and supports residents, businesses and volunteers to organise litter pick activities or events to help tidy their village or town. 

Further information

Please see our Support for the community to improve the environment or Civic Pride team pages for information on how we can support other environmental projects in your area.