Litter pickers remove over 80 bags of rubbish from one site and have plans to continue the clean up

A small team of passionate litter pickers will be removing trash from a Doncaster river in the hopes of bringing back it’s natural beauty.
By Laura Andrew
Published 18th May 2021, 10:14 BST
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Patrick Sharkey started the Litter Free Team with his wife and sister in law.

He picks up one to two bags of litter on a daily basis when he walks around Bentley.

Patrick, 66, said: “I go out five times a week on average.

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Patrick Sharkey and his team of litter pickers took 80 bags of rubbish from Mill Dike in Bentley.Patrick Sharkey and his team of litter pickers took 80 bags of rubbish from Mill Dike in Bentley.
Patrick Sharkey and his team of litter pickers took 80 bags of rubbish from Mill Dike in Bentley.

“During lockdown I noticed the embankment around Mill Dike was an utter disgrace and I wanted to do something about it.

“We took over 80 bags of rubbish away and we haven’t even finished.”

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Patrick was struck at the number of beer cans littering the area.

Mill Dike before the litter pick.Mill Dike before the litter pick.
Mill Dike before the litter pick.

Due to the change in season the litter pickers are now restricted in their clean up until Autumn as nature has overgrown on the embankment.

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Patrick has decided to work with the Doncaster Catchment River Trust who will help the litter pickers enter the river itself.

“Equipped with full wader suits, we intend to enter the water and remove all litter and fly tipped debris,” he said.

“This will take place on Tuesday, June 8 at 10 am.”

Mill Dike after the litter pick.Mill Dike after the litter pick.
Mill Dike after the litter pick.

Patrick’s river little pick will coincide with the annual Great British Spring Clean organised by Keep Britain Tidy which will occur from May 28 to June 13, 2021.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Liam Hoden, editor.

Related topics:Litter pickersDoncaster