Spring has arrived, and across Scotland something rather wonderful is happening. In parks and riverbanks, along canal towpaths and suburban streets, thousands of people are pulling on their gloves, grabbing a bin bag, and doing something magnificently simple: picking up litter.

Keep Scotland Beautiful's annual #SpringCleanScotland campaign is well underway, running from 13 March through to 24 April, and the numbers are already impressive. More than 10,000 volunteers have registered across the country, with 21 clean-up events planned in Glasgow alone and 29 across West Dunbartonshire.

The Scottish campaign runs alongside the Great British Spring Clean, organised by Keep Britain Tidy, which has mobilised more than 400,000 volunteers across the UK since 2016 and seen over 4.5 million bags of litter pledged for collection.

But what makes this more than a worthy cause is the spirit behind it.

"We make it a party"

Susan Wilson, community gardener facilitator at FARE Scotland in Glasgow, puts it perfectly: "At FARE Community Allotment, we don't just litter pick — we make it a party. Teaming up with local schools and nurseries, we turn tidying up into a fun adventure with songs, posters, and creative antics."

She adds: "It's about more than just picking up rubbish; it's about teaching little ones to love their community and bin litter like superheroes. When we work and laugh together, we build a cleaner, greener, and prouder community."

Further down the Clyde, Zoe Weir from Friends of Dumbarton Foreshore captures the seasonal magic of it: "Spring is the perfect time of year for our litter picks, restoring Dumbarton's Clyde estuary shore to its beautiful best as nature wakes up around us."

The Big Clyde Clean Up

West Dunbartonshire Council has launched its own Big Clyde Clean Up, bringing together volunteer groups, schools, and local businesses to tackle litter along the river corridor. A follow-up flagship event is scheduled for Saturday 18 April, with simultaneous clean-ups along key stretches of the Clyde.

Dumbarton Football Club and Vale of Leven FC have pledged their support, while local hire company McNicholl has offered a van to help lift full bags of litter. The council's Greenspace team is distributing equipment to participating groups.

Anyone interested can contact Community Greenspace Officer Andy Devine at andy.devine@west-dunbarton.gov.uk.

Why it matters

Keep Scotland Beautiful's latest survey paints a stark picture: 50% of Scottish adults admit to littering in the past year, and 88% consider it a national problem. Fully 83% want more done to clean up and prevent litter.

Barry Fisher, chief executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, says: "We've already passed 10,000 registrations — but we need thousands more. We know how strong the appetite is for a cleaner Scotland. We all have a job to do, so join a litter pick or register your own and help us keep our precious environment free from litter."

How to get involved

It could not be simpler. Visit keepscotlandbeautiful.org/clean-up-scotland/spring-clean-scotland to find a clean-up near you or register your own event. You don't need special equipment — most councils and volunteer groups provide litter pickers, gloves, and bags. Families are very welcome, and children are positively encouraged.

The campaign runs until 24 April, so there is still plenty of time. Whether you can spare an hour or a whole morning, whether you rally a dozen neighbours or simply head out on your own — it counts.

Spring is here. The community is mobilising. And the best stories, as they say, are the ones you can actually be part of.