Woman aims to fix 'appalling' litter problem

Gill Thomas is Stroud District Council's Member Champion for Litter and Clean Environment

A woman aiming to fix what she describes as an "appalling" litter problem, is leading a team of volunteers on a 22 mile (35km) overnight walk to collect rubbish.

Gill Thomas, Stroud District Council's Member Champion for Litter and Clean Environment, has organised many long-distance personal challenges where she will litter pick along the way.

Ms Thomas is also running a campaign which aims to provide primary school children with litter pickers which they can use to keep the area around their school clean.

"It's about raising awareness and trying to do something to make a difference," she said.

Ms Thomas collected about 100 pieces of litter per mile on the Stroud Half Marathon earlier this year

Ms Thomas says she came up with the idea after running the Stroud Half Marathon in 2024.

Throughout the run, she picked up 22 bags of rubbish along the 13.1 mile (21km) route.

So far, 45 schools in the Stroud District area have signed up for the Litter Pickers for Little Pickers campaign and more than 1,400 grabbers have been handed out.

Ms Thomas, who this month has been given an award for her community efforts, is additionally raising money to buy books about the importance of protecting the environment for the children.

She said the response has been "incredible" and shows the "strong desire" for action in the community, which she said will benefit more than 7,000 children in the area.

Ms Thomas litter picking during the Stroud Half Marathon

Ms Thomas said: "Some people have the attitude that it's okay to drop rubbish in the streets, as someone else - usually the council - will clear up after them.

"But the council can't be out every day as well as doing weekly bin collections; so it's the responsibility of all of us to help keep our streets tidy.

"If we all do a little bit when we're out and about, and make it a team effort, it will benefit everyone."