On 6 February, two members of local environmental group ‘Rage Against Rubbish’ carried out a mini litter pick on the College grounds. Dan Perry and Damien Vass, who both work at the College, cleared rubbish from the rhyne that runs through the Bridgwater campus.

This particular section of the campus has recently been designated a wildlife corridor and has subsequently received funding from the Greater Quantock Landscape Development Fund to further enhance the natural habitat. The fund has been provided by EDF Energy and is part of the mitigation measures associated with the Hinkley Point C development. You can find out more here.

To complete the litter pick, Dan used a Canadian canoe to retrieve the waterborne rubbish and Damien cleared litter on the bank side. In total they removed one 40 litre flexi tub full of general waste including bottles, cans and crisp packets, one bin bag of general waste, a rugby ball and a giant, waterlogged builders’ ‘dumpy bag’.

Dan volunteered the services of Rage Against Rubbish after recently joining Bridgwater & Taunton College’s Sustainability Committee. The College is working hard at promoting its sustainability policy and demonstrating that it is an environmentally responsible business. Mark Nettle, Director of Student Services said,

“With increased public awareness of the damage plastic waste, in particular, is inflicting on the natural world, I was delighted that Rage Against Rubbish were able to help to improve one of our own natural habitats.”

Rage Against Rubbish is keen to promote the issue of litter, recycling and sustainability among all age groups and hopes to work with the students of Bridgwater & Taunton College in the future.

To find out more about Rage Against Rubbish and their monthly litter picks please head over to their Facebook page, Twitter or Instagram.