Helped by a Womble, Litter-free Felixstowe's have successfully held their first litter picking event since before the initial lockdown in March 2020.

Orinoco from the Wombles family, that were probably the first litter-picking group in the UK,

The temperature being not too cold, not too warm but being just right was commented on by Debbie Bartlett, founder of the Litter-free Felixstowe group. "If it was too hot, then maybe people would be off doing other things. If it was raining, they might not have come."

Launching in November 2018, Litter-free Felixstowe tackles littering issues across Felixstowe to protect wildlife and the eco-system. With the work of Debbie and a number of volunteers, the group has a stated goal of making 'Felixstowe the UK's first Litter-Free town – let's do it together.' This sense of togetherness is something that is important to Debbie.

In describing the event, Debbie said: "It's lovely, it's sociable and everybody are like-minded people. People just really care about doing it."

At the event, 60 volunteers, including children, banded together with the aim of raising awareness of the effects of littering and advertising the work that they do.

Debbie's inspiration in starting her litter-free journey can be summed up in two words: David Attenborough. "I watched Blue Planet very early on in early 2020," said Debbie, "and it occurred to me that there was so much litter already on the beach. Yes, it was lovely to be doing things like replacing cling film with bees wax but what was also important is that we needed action.

"I went out litter picking and then went out litter picking with other people and thought 'we've got to get the numbers involved.'"

This sense of duty and responsibility culminated in the creation of Litter-free Felixstowe although Debbie had no idea how much of a success it would be.

"I thought nobody would turn up but 80 people did turn up so it was just lovely."

Speaking about Sunday's event, which she believes it makes a great advert for Felixstowe, Debbie said: "Early on, the councils thought this would imply that we've got a lot of litter. Rather it implies that we have a community that cares and is doing something about it. It's just a happy thing to be doing.

"The brand is really important. A lot of the children are wearing t-shirts and hi-vis jackets. The banners, too. That's actually really important as everyone says we are the biggest litter group, but it's because we spend a lot of time trying to gather community together. It's been one of our main focuses."

The writer of two children's books, Just One Child and Just One World, Debbie states that her immediate aim is to be more involved with children's education of environmental issues. "If you have inspired one extra child then that makes it worthwhile."

Debbie's related campaign of Litter-Free Roads and Laybys could, according to Debbie, "do with some funding."

The campaign collaborates with a number of haulage businesses who have agreed to decrease their waste output. It also aims to bring to light the impact waste can have on the environment and improve signs for motorists.

"I need businesses to be much more proactive than they are. It's a great thing for businesses to be involved in within the community in helping the town in Felixstowe."

Some businesses, however, are making the effort to support the cause.

"Goldstar, who provided the banner today, have been brilliant. The Yeo Group, who provided drink vouchers for the event, phoned me and asked "What can we do as a business? What can we do to help? How can we reward people who have come to litter pick?"

Spa Pavilion also provided the prize for the children's scavenger hunt.

"We have also joined up with DIScoverABILITY which is great in thinking 'how do we make it so that everybody can get involved'?"

Debbie also gave recommendations of what all of us can do to help our local community and to be more environmentally conscious. She said: "If everybody did their area outside their own front garden… they don't necessarily need to come any distance."

She also stresses the importance of realising responsibility of our local areas with the key message that "if somebody's dropped it, somebody's got to pick it up, otherwise it will end up in the sea, for example.

"Yes, the council do a fantastic job but they can't be everywhere. There isn't enough public money for everything to be everywhere so we've just got to accept that we've all got responsibility."

As for making sure to litter pick in a safe way, Debbie said: "Never touch litter with bare hands so either wear gloves or have a litter picker. If people want to contact me for litter picking equipment, if they're going to be a regular litter picker, then I will provide that."

However, the most important recommendation comes in the form of thanks. "If you see a litter picker, just say thank you because that means the world to people."

The role of social media in gathering community support, has helped to make the group what it is today, according to Debbie. Boasting 1.1k members to the Litter Free, the impact of Facebook is, in Debbie's own words, "massive."

"Without Facebook, this group would not have started and grown and be the organisation it is without it.

"People love to post their own pictures and they love to post pictures of themselves and the litter that they have picked up. This just inspires other people."

Her message to those involved with the group is to "please post pictures because, without the Facebook group, nothing else works."

A big part of the Litter-free campaign is focused on the younger generation. Debbie said: "I think 80% of our focus is to educate. Education can be adults as well as children but it's very important to get the younger generation."

Her core belief is that "once a child has litter picked, they will never throw litter."

Acknowledging that COVID has curtailed a lot of her awareness activities with children, Debbie admitted "I'm just frustrated that I can't go in and give lessons in schools."

After the event, Debbie made sure to give thanks online to the many people, including Marion Parker, Cllr Julie Barton, Belinda Jarvis, Neil Davidson, Lisa Tyte, David & Mary Underwood, Sue & Richard Morgan, and those at DISCoverability, for their help in the success of the event.

Debbie added: "Thank you to everyone who came along to volunteer and meet up with like-minded people. It is great to see so many who care about the environment and 'love where they live'. So proud of Felixstowe… brilliant community effort."

To join the Litter-free Felixstowe Facebook page, you can follow the link here

To find out about events in Felixstowe and to add any events of your own through the Nub It button, visit What's On in Felixstowe for more details.