More volunteers take part in Voar Redd Up, as litter levels start to reduce

The quantity of rubbish collected at this year’s Voar Redd Up was down on last year, although more volunteers were involved.

Shetland Amenity Trust, the organisers of the annual event, said the figures were encouraging, and showed the levels of litter were substantially reducing.

The award-winning community clean-up undertaken each April attracts the highest number of volunteers per head of population in the UK and this year 4,191 local people, 19 per cent of the population, took part.

This is the highest number of volunteers since the inception of the event, and more than a 10-fold increase on the first Redd Up in 1988.

All together 215 groups took part from all over the isles, including charities, community groups, businesses, families and individuals.

While the number of volunteers was at an all-time high, the amount of rubbish collected was down again. The 44.8 tonnes was 10 tonnes less than last year and significantly less than the highs of 90 tonnes in 2004 and 2006.

The amenity trust has also announced the winner of the Redd Up prize draw, with “Hoofields Neighbours” being awarded a short break in one of the trust’s lighthouse holiday locations at Sumburgh, Eshaness or Bressay.

Chairman Brian Gregson said: “The trust would again like to thank all of the volunteers who give up their time to clean Shetland’s coastline, roadsides and other community areas.

“Their efforts make a huge difference to the natural heritage of Shetland, by clearing the bruck left by the winter storms and thoughtless individuals, and by removing materials which present hazards to our wildlife.”