MORE than 1500 bags of rubbish have been collected in the Forest in the six years since the launch of a district-wide anti-litter campaign.

#LoveYourForest, which was created by Suntory Beverage and Food GB&I together with local organisations, has engaged with thousands of residents to trial “creative” ways of tackling littering and boosting recycling rates since its launch in 2016.

Now, after six years of leading the campaign, Suntory is handing over the reigns to Forest of Dean District Council and Forestry England, who will continue to manage its recycling infrastructure and engage with local residents.

The partnership between Suntory and environmental charity Hubbub, Forest of Dean District Council, Forestry England, Foresters’ Forest, and Forest of Dean & Wye Valley Tourism has seen more than 120 community events organised, including an anti-pollution peloton event last September hosted by former Four Cross World Mountain Biking Champion Katy Curd.

Local schools, scouts and guides have also been taught “the importance of taking responsibility for litter” through educational workshops and community litter picks.

The campaign’s ‘Trashconverter’ - a converted horsebox turned into “a litter-picking machine” – has appeared at a host of local events, enabling members of the public to exchange litter for treats.

The partners have also delivered “on-the-go” recycling infrastructure in the area, including seven recycling bins and two recycle reward machines named by local people as ‘Sir Recyclesalot’ and ‘Buddy The Bottle Crusher’.

On what has been achieved, Michelle Norman, Director of Sustainability at Suntory GB&I, said: “Over the course of six years it has been a pleasure to work closely with Hubbub and equally passionate partners to deliver LoveYourForest, which has proven to be a powerful way of bringing to light the importance of taking pride in our rural areas.

“We’re pleased to have been able to make such a difference, and proud that the programme will continue under the leadership of Forest of Dean District Council and Forestry England.”

Councillor Sid Phelps, Cabinet Member for Environment at Forest of Dean District Council, said: “We’ve been immensely proud to have been a partner to the LoveYourForest campaign over the last 6 years.

“The project is a great example of how working together, across organisations, for a common goal, can have much greater reach and impact.

“We know many people in our local community now recognise the LoveYourForest brand which demonstrates just how successful the campaign has been. We very much hope to build on that success as this important project to combat litter in the Forest of Dean now enters a new phase under the guardianship of the District Council and Forestry England.”