ENVIRONMENT champions have set up a Facebook page to help improve their local community.

Liz Bruksgård, 48, set up the Five Valleys Wombles page to make a positive impact after she came across a disgusting amount of litter on Rodborough Common.

"Just after Christmas my friend Karin and I took my dogs for a walk and we saw so much litter after a gathering had obviously taken place," said Liz.

"We found at least 50 NOS canisters, beer and cider cans, food containers, pizza boxes and glass bottles and it made me so angry.

"It was literally thrown onto the grass, with not even an attempt to tidy up.

"Littering has an impact on wildlife as well as the general mood of a place. It was time to change."

After picking up what they could Liz came home and started thinking.

"I thought with the amount of dog walkers, families and people who use the common for exercise, there must be others who are disgusted too.

"I originally created the page as Rodborough Wombles and it soon became clear that I wasn’t alone in my frustrations."

The name didn't last long because the page soon had people joining from Minchinhampton, Cainscross, Cashes Green and Paganhill.

"It evolved into a group of like-minded people, all on a litter learning curve," said Liz.

"We want to start making people proud of the areas that they live in.

"You have a choice to stand and stare at a rubbish bin and moan, or report it and solve the problem.

"Less moaning, more doing has become our motto un-officially."

Liz says that the group hope to forge links with the council and offer help to the parish councils when restrictions are eased.

"The council wardens and refuse team can’t be everywhere or expected to know where and when bins are overflowing."

The page is used to share what they find and share useful links to report issues such as overflowing bins, fly tipping and dog mess collections.

Members take a carrier bag, a litter picker and most essentially gloves before picking up what you can while on a walk.

There is no expectation, you can make a difference by picking up a can, a piece of broken glass or a crisp packet to save an animal or child from getting hurt.

The page has over 250 members, who have said it helps to go and have a walk or a Womble during lockdown and helped improve their mental health.

It has helped create neighbourhood connections and new friendships have been forged.

One lady said that her neighbours started picking litter after she did, then everyone began tidying their gardens and planting bulbs in communal spaces.

The group hope to forge links with the council and offer help to the parish councils when restrictions are eased.

The council wardens and refuse team can’t be everywhere or expected to know where and when bins are overflowing.