Environment event still flying high after a decade as Airbus volunteers celebrate 10th Anniversary of Big Dee Day

Employees from Airbus Broughton took part in the 10^th anniversary of the Big Dee Day on Friday, an annual clean-up of the River Dee.

The Airbus team were kitted out with gloves and litter pickers before heading down to Saltney Ferry Bridge to spend the day collecting litter from along the riverbank. Their efforts filled 15 bags of rubbish in total, with a golf bag, petrol tank and a fridge also collected on the day.

Elin Sams, a volunteer who participated in the event, said

“The day is a great way of bringing people together to get involved in the community and contribute to the conservation of the local environment”.

Employees from the Airbus Broughton site have supported the Big Dee Day for the past ten years.

While the event is sponsored by a number of local businesses and community groups, Airbus’ participation is particularly important as the River Dee is where Airbus A380 wings start their journey from the Broughton factory to the Port of Mostyn, North Wales.

The completed wing sets are then delivered to Airbus headquarters in Toulouse for final assembly.

Community Relations Manager at Airbus Broughton, Phil McGraa, said,

“The day was a great event to be a part of. Airbus plays a big role in the local community in North Wales and the River Dee is a key means of transportation for our A380 wings, so we are keen to give something back by supporting the clean-up”.

This year is the 10^th anniversary of the event, coordinated by Flintshire Council, Cheshire West and Chester Council, the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales.

To mark the occasion a special celebration event, The REALLY Big Dee Day, was held at Edgar’s Field Park in Handbridge on Saturday.

Airbus in the UK continues its commitment to local conservation and sustainability projects, as Environment is one of three core strands at the heart of the company’s community engagement policy.

Airbus also supports Youth and Education based events, such as the upcoming Air Smiles day at Airbus Broughton and this year’s TeenTech event taking place at Coleg Cambria.