Dear Blogger
Help us Keep Shropshire Tidy and don't litter
Use takaway plastic boxes to pack your picnic - not foil or cling film - then take them home to wash and put away for next time.
SHROPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL is asking visitors to beauty spots across the county to do their bit to keep our parks and sites clean and tidy.
Our local parks and sites have been a lifeline for many people over the past two months. They have provided a safe, clean and tidy space for people to exercise safely and have been vital for our physical and mental health. This is one of the reasons we are calling on everyone to do their bit.
Wild ponies on the Long Mynd in the Shropshire Hills AONB
With people visiting the Shropshire countryside in greater numbers since the relaxing of lockdown restrictions, we have seen a dramatic increase in the amount of litter being left. Not only does this spoil sites for others, it also poses a further health risk to other visitors and our staff and volunteers who are left to clean up after people.
Our staff and key workers across the county and nation have been working tirelessly through the pandemic.
If you are eating or drinking at parks and sites across the county, please do not under any circumstances leave your rubbish where you've been sitting and do not fill the bins with it if they are already full. Please take it home and dispose of it responsibly.
We all want to be able to enjoy places that are clean and litter-free, and this will not be possible if people don't act themselves.
Colemere
Lezley Picton, Shropshire Council's Cabinet member for culture, leisure, waste and communications, said:
"Our parks and sites have been essential to our residents and local communities during lockdown, and people have grown to really value the precious green spaces we are lucky to have in Shropshire.
"We want to keep our green spaces clean and tidy, primarily for the health and safety of our communities, staff, volunteers and visitors. But we also want to protect the beauty of these places and everyone has a role to play in that.
"If there are no bins with space for litter, please take your rubbish home with you. Nobody wants to see pictures of our beautiful parks and sites laden with litter and plastic pollution.
"We fully appreciate that this has been a difficult time for a lot of people and everyone wants to be able to enjoy Shropshire's Great Outdoors. Thank you for helping us keep Shropshire tidy."
Stay safe when visiting our parks and sites
- Keep at least 2 metres apart from anyone outside your household at all times
- Although national guidelines now permit you to travel to exercise, we ask that you stay local to avoid large numbers at our sites
- Take hygiene precautions when you are outside, and wash your hands as soon as you are back indoors
- Try to stay away from busy areas. Go somewhere quieter for your exercise.
The Countryside Code
Respect other people:
- Consider the local community and other people enjoying the outdoors
- Leave gates and property as you find them, and follow paths unless wider access is available
Protect the natural environment:
- Leave no trace of your visit and take your litter home
- Keep dogs under effective control
Enjoy the outdoors:
- Plan ahead and be prepared
- Follow advice and local signs.
Keep informed and sign up to our daily coronavirus email updates
Shropshire Council wants to keep you as up to date and informed as possible. To help us do this, we have developed a coronavirus update that will be sent daily at 8pm via email to anyone who has signed up to our e-bulletins.
This update includes the day's key Shropshire Council news, and some key news from our partners, relating to coronavirus-linked issues. Please click here to sign up for the updates.
Please do encourage your family and friends to sign up to the updates too. This will help us keep everyone up to date with the rapidly-evolving crisis.
Useful Links
Shropshire's Great Outdoors
Shropshire Council
UK Government
The Repair Café is closed but is operating on a 'virtual' plane as described in the 
