ONE of the first charity litter picks under Covid-19 pandemic lockdown guidance took place in Trowbridge on Saturday (March 27).

Mel Jacob, chairwoman of the Big Community Grow, which organises the Trowbridge Apple Festival, led a small group of litter pickers in the Castle Mead area.

They were able to collect litter from the Green Lane Nature Park under the watchful gaze of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, which takes care of the nature park and woods.

GreenSquare Housing Association send three volunteers from its team to dispose of the waste collected by the litter pickers.

Mrs Jacob said: "This was very much a collaboration to try and clear litter from around Castle Mead, particularly the Green Lane Nature Park area and play area opposite the Co-op store.

"We wanted to clear any litter before hedges came into leaf and undergrowth began to grow.

"Although we did find litter - lots of bottles and cans as well as sweet wrappers and dog poo bags - it was not terrible."

She added: "You can tell the area is maintained by GreenSquare in comparison with the area around Paxcroft Brook which is much worse.

"I am doing a litter pick there on April 10 with Paxcroft Brook Open Space Group."