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Pick litter to keep wildlife safe

Litter picking is a practical, hands-on activity that supports animal welfare and encourages young people to take responsibility for their surroundings.

Last edited: 30/05/2025

Before you get started

Why this is important

Litter is a serious issue across the UK and can pose real dangers to wildlife. Items like food tins, frisbees, or balloons may seem harmless, but they can cause injuries, entanglement, or even death for animals.

By picking up litter, learners are taking simple but powerful action to reduce harm to animals both on land and in water. It’s a meaningful way to connect environmental responsibility with animal welfare.

An open loop frisbee that was removed from a seal.

Instructions

Litter picking

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1

Choosing an area

Select a safe area for your litter pick. This could be a local park, school grounds, beach, or even a town centre. Every piece of litter removed helps stop it from reaching rivers, fields, or woodlands.

Family inspecting their local community for litter.
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2

Working in the area

Decide how to approach the clean-up. You might:
 

  • Walk and scan as a group
  • Work in timed sections
  • Divide the area into smaller zones

Be careful around natural habitats. We want to make spaces cleaner, but without disturbing animals or their homes.

Family searching for litter in their local community.
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3

Record results

Reflect on the impact of your work. Try:
 

  • Taking before-and-after photos
  • Categorising litter (by material, type, or recyclability)
  • Weighing or counting the amount of litter collected

Litter categories into two different bags for analysis.
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Preventing harm

Have a discussion about the kinds of litter found:
 

  • Could any of this have injured an animal or pet?
  • What might have happened if it wasn’t picked up?
  • How might this action prevent harm in the future?

Seals feeling safe in their local environment.

celebrate your achievement

Together, We’re Making an Impact

Sign up and upload a photo of your litter pick, and we’ll add +1 to our impact counter - showing how many of you are making a collective difference.