The 2018 PURE Mile Competition has attracted a huge number of communities, individuals, organisations, businesses, scouts, walking groups and cycling clubs, and all are busy Cleaning Up The Uplands.
Recent cleanups have resulted in the removal of tonnes of illegal dumping and litter from the county of Wicklow, with groups concentrating their efforts on cleaning up roads, forestries, upland amenities and mountains.
Over 60 groups are now involved in this years competition, ranging from Ballinaclash to Ballinascorney in South Dublin, with over 1,000 volunteers involved in, Cleaning Up The Uplands.
The Stratford-on-Slaney PURE Mile group has adopted 12 miles of road in their local area with their first community litter pick resulting in the removal of 65 bags of litter and rubbish from the landscape, as well as an office chair, laminated flooring, a wheel, a skateboard, remnants of a Christmas tree, buckets, an oil drum, and two boxes of bottles.
The neighbouring village of Grangecon has been extremely busy organising regular litter picks with over 14 miles of road now in the PURE Mile with the new areas of Tinoran, Knockarigg Hill, Raheen, Rampere and Ballynure all getting involved.
The Avoca Scouts, a new group to the PURE Mile, organised a cleanup on a stretch of the Vale Road attracting over 30 volunteers, with more activities planned throughout the year. The Beech Road PURE Mile have held a number of litter picks this year and have already removed over 50 bags of rubbish.
A recent litter pick by the Glencree Walking Group in the beautiful scenic Wicklow/Dublin uplands, all the way from Kilakee Car Park in South Dublin to the Sally Gap Cross Roads in Wicklow, resulted in the removal of over 120 bags of rubbish, with another clean up organised this weekend.
Although the Ballinabarney/Ballyteige PURE Mile, and Glenmalure PURE Mile, were both past winners of the Best PURE Mile Award, they are determined to keep their areas clean, with cleanups resulting in the collection of approximately 100 bags of rubbish, tyres and furniture from local roads and forestries.
Ian Davis, PURE Project Manager commented.
‘The PURE Mile has grown from strength to strength every year, with over 190 miles of road adopted in this year’s competition, the largest number since the PURE Mile was established in 2009, with more groups eaget to get involved in next year competition. PURE has removed over 3,100 tonnes of illegal dumping from the Wicklow/Dublin uplands, but we only have one truck and one driver, so we are unable to remove the unsightly small-scale litter. All of the PURE Mile groups make a huge difference to the appearance of the Wicklow/Dublin uplands, and I would like to congratulate and thank all the people involved.’
More cleanups and events have been organised by the numerous PURE Mile groups
with PURE supplying all groups with bags, litter pickers, gloves and high-vis jackets, and the PURE Truck removes all of rubbish gathered by groups.
If any groups, communities, individuals, schools, walking groups, cycling groups, scouts, businesses, anyone, wants to get involved in next years PURE Mile they can contact PURE at info@pureproject.ie or download and application from www.pureproject.ie/what-we-do/the-pure-mile/. You can also write to; PURE Project, Wicklow Mountains, National Park, Kilafin, Laragh, Bray, Co. Wicklow and they will post out all the information or request an application form and information pack by phoning PURE on 0404 45547.
All groups who enter the competition are invited to the PURE Mile Awards Night, and all will receive a Certificate of Participation, a selection of Native Irish Trees, and all will feature in the PURE Mile Calendar – with €4,000 of prize money to be won in a number of categories.
Further information on PURE can be found on www.pureproject.ie
TO REPORT DUMPERS AND DUMPING lo–call 1850 365 121
