Rural railway spring clean set to return

2 hours ago

News image — Volunteers removed furniture and electrical goods from rail line last year

The Auckland Project About a dozen male and female volunteers with his visibility vests and litter pickers are collecting waste from a rail line and placing it in blue refuse bags. The rails are surrounded by green shrubs. The sun is shining and a yellow train can be seen in the distance. — Volunteers removed furniture and electrical goods from rail line last year

A team of volunteers is set to return to a rural rail line for a community litter pick after a successful first year.

In 2025, the group of 50 collected more than 200 bags of waste along the 18-mile (12km) Weardale Railway, between Bishop Auckland and Stanhope in County Durham.

The volunteers removed furniture, shopping trolleys, scrap metal, and electrical goods.

More than 50 people are expected to take part again on 12 April, including members of the local community, Lanchester Boys' Brigade, Weardale Railway staff, Frosterley Angling Club, Wear Rivers Trust and Durham Wildlife Trust.

The event will also be supported by Durham County Council's Civic Pride Team and is part of the annual Big Spring Clean campaign.

"Last year's Big Spring Clean was an incredible demonstration of local pride," Weardale Railway general manager Claire Gibbons said.

The Auckland Project About 50 volunteers in high visibility vests are standing on the platform a Stanhope station and smiling. There is a pile of blue waste bags in front of them. A yellow train is on the rails. — The litter pick is back after a successful first year

"More than 200 bags of litter were collected in a single day, and people of all ages came together to protect this beautiful stretch of County Durham."

Durham County Council's cabinet member for neighbourhoods, environment and police relations, Kyle Genner, said he hoped the litter pick would inspire others to do the same.

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