a girl puts litter in a bag held by an adult
Credit: Envato Elements

A week of events for the the Torfaen Spring Clean 2024 starts on Saturday 30 March at Pontypool Park at 11am.

Litter picking events have been organised at ten locations across the borough, including Garn Lakes, Cwmbran Boating Lake and Pontypool Town Centre.

Five litter pick locations have been chosen by the Torfaen Access Forum due to nearby parking and level hard surfaces. These are Pontypool Park, Garn Lakes, Woodland Road fields, Northfields, Cwmbran Boating Lake.

Torfaen Spring Clean runs from Saturday 30 March until Friday 5 April with two events running each day, so there’s plenty of time to get involved.

If you would like to take part in an event, please come along and register for free on the day.

Alternatively, to organise your own litter pick, please get in touch with [email protected]

Event details:

Date: Saturday 30 March

Time: 11am – 1pm

Location: Pontypool Park at Active Living Leisure Centre*

Meeting place: Active Living Centre

Date: Monday 01 April

Time: 11am – 1pm

Location: Garn Lakes*

Meeting place: Garn Yr Erw car park

Date: Monday 01 April

Time: 3pm -5pm

Location: Blaenavon town centre

Meeting place: Blaenavon Workmen’s Hall

Date: Tuesday 02 April

Time: 11am – 1pm

Location: Abersychan

Meeting place: Garndiffaith Millennium Hall Car Park

Date: Tuesday 02 April

April Time: 3pm – 5pm

Location: Pontypool town centre

Meeting point: Pontypool indoor market. Commercial street entrance

Date: Wednesday 03 April

Time: 11am – 1pm

Location: Woodland Road fields*

Meeting place: Woodland road sports and social club

Date: Wednesday 03 April

Time: 5pm – 7pm

Location: Springvale woods

Meeting place: Outside Afon Plumbing and Bathrooms

Date: Thursday 04 April

Time: 11am – 1pm

Location: Northfields*

Meeting point: The Olive Tree

Date: Thursday 04 April

Time: 5pm-7pm

Location: Llantarnam Ponds

Meeting point: Lake view

Date: Friday 05 April

Time: 11am-1pm

Location: Cwmbran Boating Lake*

Meeting point: Boating lake café

Councillor Mandy Owen, executive member for the environment, said: “We would like to thank members of the Torfaen Access Forum for their help this year.

“It’s been good to get advice about our litter picking locations from a group who raises awareness of the wide range of challenges faced by people living with a disability or long term physical or mental health condition in Torfaen.

“By volunteering at a litter pick not only will you be helping clean up beauty spots, but you’ll meet like-minded people.

“We can’t thank volunteers enough for the work they do in helping keep the borough clean. Between us all we want to keep Torfaen clean and green not just for now, but for future generations.”

Amanda Say, Torfaen Access Forum, said: “We have been delighted to work with the council to identify locations that are more inclusive of disabled people, and those with long term health conditions by having nearby parking, and level hard surfaces from which to litter pick and be part of the Spring Clean Programme 2024.”

Volunteers are asked to wear weather appropriate clothing, gloves and sturdy, waterproof footwear to events, as some ground may be uneven or wet. Litter picking equipment will be supplied on the day and a safety talk will be given. Please bring a drink with you if the forecast is for warm weather.

To find out more about more litter picking opportunities, join our dedicated Facebook page Torfaen Greener Cleaner Volunteers to get involved.