The Litter Free Dorset Challenge has returned this May.

Over the course of the month, 177 Dorset residents will be taking part in litter picking challenges of their choosing, working to clean up their local areas prior to the summer season. 

This year's challenge will see people of all ages taking part - with 70 per cent of participants having challenged themselves to take part in 10 litter pickers throughout the duration of May. Others have opted to take part in a 10-minutes a day challenge, a 10-hours over the course of one day challenge or have made up their own challenges.

Individuals are fundraising for Litter Free Dorset. The funds raised will contribute towards running the challenge again in 2023 while helping fund our other projects and campaigns to prevent litter at source, reducing litter levels across the county. You can donate to Litter Free Dorset via this link.

By taking part challengers will be able to have some fun exploring their local areas while making a difference to how their outdoor spaces look and feel - positively impacting people's mental health while benefiting our local wildlife.

Participants will also have the opportunity to provide litter data about the amount and/or types of plastic collected to the Preventing Plastic Pollution project to help inform solutions to tackle plastic pollution long term. Read more about their project here.

Amanda Arnold, Preventing Plastic Pollution researcher said: "We are really pleased to be supporting the Litter Free Dorset Challenge again in 2022. The more information gathered by volunteers on the types and quantities of litter in our environment, the better our ability to identify where it is coming from and the more likely we can create lasting solutions to stem the flow of plastics entering our rivers and seas."

To support challengers, Litter Free Dorset has created a Facebook group for participants to share their progress with their individual challenges and receive support from each other as well as the public. Join the group and offer encouragement to challenge participants by clicking here.

Sophie Colley, Litter Free Dorset's Coordinator said: "Taking part in this year's litter challenge? Share your finds and photographs to social media and tag in Litter Free Dorset and the Preventing Plastic Pollution project for a chance to be featured on our social media. Use the hashtag #LFDChallenge to make sure we don't miss your posts. Good luck with your challenge and a big thanks in advance for your litter picking efforts!"