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Pentwyn and Llanedeyrn Pickers disband ending group litter collections

The litter-picking group will cease its operations after no new committee members came forward

THE Cardiff litter-picking group known as Pentwyn and Llanedeyrn Pickers is to disband after failing to find enough new committee members.

A statement on the group’s social media said: “We would like to thank all our wonderful volunteers and all the people who have supported us over the years.

“The volunteers will still pick as individuals but there will be no group activities.

“The current committee resigned so we needed a new committee, but not enough people came forward to run the group.”

Committee roles can be taxing, especially when members have a job alongside volunteering with the group, which explains some of the reluctance for new people to come forward.

Some of the excessive litter found in Pentwyn and Llanedeyrn (Photo: Pentwyn and Llanedeyrn Pickers)

Barbara Willcocks, 69, was a chairperson for two years, until March 2021 and remains an avid litter picker outside of the group.

“I won’t stop,” she said.

“The regular pickers, those who at least go out once a week or more, we’ll just carry on.

“It is sad, but I do an awful lot of solo litter picking anyway so it’s not like I won’t be able to do any more.”

In July of last year the group tried recruiting more people but was unsuccessful, with the few that did come forward choosing not to stay on for long.

“I think that the two or three people found it a bit hard and decided it wasn’t for them,” said Barbara.

Pentwyn-based picker Barbara, and a recent litter haul (Photo: Barbara Willcocks)

Liberal Democrat Councillor Dan Naughton, who serves Pentwyn, said: “It is really sad news. The group has worked hard for the community over the years. There will still be some very good individuals going litter-picking under the Keep Wales Tidy banner but it sad that our community has lost this group.

“My personal thanks goes out to them for their hard work in making Pentwyn and Llanedeyrn a cleaner and safer place to live.”

Barbara and others will continue to keep the streets clean individually to ensure the people of Pentwyn and Llanedeyrn will not be overrun with rubbish.

The group, which has run since 2016, will officially cease activities on Wednesday, March 16.