Christmas display created from roadside litter

Used crisp packets and disposable cups have been repurposed into animal-themed festive decorations to highlight the issue of roadside litter. Children from Shap, Tebay, and Orton primary schools in Cumbria volunteered to craft the decorated Christmas trees and arches now exhibited at Westmorland Farmshop's Tebay Services.

This initiative is part of National Highways' ongoing efforts to tackle roadside litter, which costs millions annually to remove and poses risks to wildlife. Rachel McHugh from the farmshop explained: Litter along the roads not only spoils the scenery but also threatens wildlife and affects the people working tirelessly to maintain these routes.

The young volunteers created eight displays using items commonly found as road rubbish. National Highways reported that in a survey of 1,000 drivers, 22% admitted to leaving litter on major roads in England, while over half were unaware that it could cause delays due to cleanup operations.

Freda Rashdi, head of customer journeys at National Highways, urged the public to refrain from littering: We dont ask for much this Christmas, and we certainly wont be wishing for snow. What matters is that everyone enjoys safe and smooth journeys during the festive season.

The finished artworks, made from plastic bottles, old toys, and other discarded items, are now on display at Tebay Services, turning previously harmful litter into creative public art.

Author: Sophia Brooks