Hundreds of volunteers set to take part in this years BIG DEE DAY

Hundreds of volunteers will be taking to the banks of the River Dee and surrounding areas over the next week for The Big Dee Day annual clean up.

The event, coordinated by Flintshire County Council with staff from the neighbouring councils of Cheshire West and Chester, Denbighshire, Wrexham and Shropshire and Natural Resources Wales, is back for its 11th year and promises to be bigger and better than ever.

Volunteers from community groups, conservation groups and businesses from across North Wales and Cheshire will be rolling up their sleeves to clear the river and marine litter as well as spruce up the areas along its banks and plant gorse.

There are around 40 organisations involved in the clean-up including Keep Wales Tidy, Coleg Cambria, Ysgol Gwynedd, Connah’s Quay High School, Friends of Bagillt foreshore, Sustrans, ENI, Kingspan, Holywell Scout Group, Friends of Wepre Park, McDonald’s, Tesco, Toyota and Airbus.

Here are just a few of the activities taking place:

• Ysgol Gwynedd, ENI and Flintshire Countryside Service will be litter picking at Talacre Beach on 15 September;
• Holywell Scouts are litterpicking and tidying at Greenfield Valley and Greenfield Dock on 16 September;
• Staff from Tesco and Flintshire Countryside Service will be clearing and planting gorse at Greenfield Dock on 19 September;
• Toyota will be doing their bit on Flintshire foreshore on 20 September;
• Greenfield Valley Heritage Trust volunteers will be litter picking around Llanarch y Mor (funship) on 21 September.

Councillor Carolyn Thomas, Cabinet Member for Countryside, said:

It is really great to see so many wanting to take part and help protect our local countryside. The volunteers play a huge part in helping to ensure our coastline is kept clean for both visitors and wildlife. I’d like to thank everyone who will be supporting The Big Dee Day 2017. Your efforts really are appreciated.

The Big Dee Day will begin with a launch at Wepre Park between 9:30 and 12:30pm on Friday 15 September.