Want to take on a new challenge that could improve fitness, spend more time in nature and improve your local area?

This June, Litter Free Dorset is asking residents to take part in a challenge to clean up the county.

Until Monday, May 17, they can sign up to take part in the Litter Free Dorset Challenge, which will run for the duration of June. They will be provided with a litter picker, t-shirt and weighing scales and can contribute their litter picking data to Prevent Plastic Pollution's (PPP) citizen science project.

Dr Iwan Jones, PPP project leader at Queen Mary University of London, said: "Joining the challenge can help to clear up your local environment, but providing us with your data can help us to develop solutions to the problem of plastic pollution, which can then be utilised across the channel region as well as further afield."

Litter Free Dorset has created a Facebook group for participants to share their progress with their individual challenges and receive support from each other. It can be found here.

Sophie Colley, co-ordinator for Litter Free Dorset, said: "Litter picking is proven to increase your fitness and wellbeing. This is due to being outdoors, exploring new places and meeting new people along the way."

As part of the challenge, you can also fundraise for Litter Free Dorset, or donate here.

To find out more, visit litterfreedorset.co.uk

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