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.
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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.
Litter picking
Instructions
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.
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.
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
4. 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?
What you’ll need
A water bottle
A jacket if it is cold, or a sun hat if it is sunny
Sun cream if it is sunny
A bag to collect the litter
Gloves to protect your hands
More ways to help animals this summer
Create an RSPCA account to save ideas to your own dashboard, upload photos of your efforts and get exclusive certificates to celebrate your contribution.
