Do your bit for Queen's big birthday

Community groups across the area are calling on people to Clean for the Queen as part of a nationwide litter pick taking place this weekend.
The Queen, who will be celebrating her 90th birthday in April, during a walk-about. Photo: Adam FairbrotherThe Queen, who will be celebrating her 90th birthday in April, during a walk-about. Photo: Adam Fairbrother
The Queen, who will be celebrating her 90th birthday in April, during a walk-about. Photo: Adam Fairbrother

The Clean for the Queen campaign has been launched by Country Life magazine in partnership with Keep Britain Tidy in a bid to tidy up in time for Her Majesty’s 90th birthday.

The first national anti-litter campaign was held in 1953, the year of the Queen’s Coronation, so it is apt this event should be held.

It will rally an army of volunteers across the country to clean up their local areas and will include a special clean-up weekend from Friday next week to Sunday.

Groups have been registering their clean-ups on the dedicated Clean for the Queen website over the past few weeks, and although there is no event set up in Melton, three village events are confirmed. Two are in Scalford and the third in Long Clawson.

The first litter pick will be carried out by pupils of Scalford Primary School. They will gather at the village hall on Friday, March 4 and spend an hour from 12.30pm doing their bit.

Organiser Pete Leonard said: “It’s an opportunity for the school children to clean up the village hall, the playground and the field.”

Cleaning the rest of the village the following day will be Scalford WI. The group will meet at the village hall at 10am for the two-hour spruce up.

Organiser Helen McNamara said: “We decided to take part because we are a Women’s Institute and the WI was influential in the setting up of the Keep Britain Tidy group in the early 1950s.”

The WI is also behind a Clean for the Queen event in Long Clawson, taking place 9am-4pm on Saturday, March 5. Villagers are asked to join together at the village hall.

Organiser Elaine Bedford, of Long Clawson WI, said: “We would like to draw the attention of all ages to the need for tidiness in the countryside, and hope to recruit some young helpers as well as WI members and spouses.”

l Are you getting involved? Tell us by e-mailing [email protected]